Yokosuka MXY7 Model 43 K-1
History
Developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy's Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal (Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho), the Model 43 K-1 Kai served as a training aircraft for novice pilots. Unlike the single-seat Model 11, the K-1 Kai featured a tandem seating arrangement, allowing an instructor to accompany the student. The warhead was replaced with water ballast to simulate the weight distribution of the operational version. A single Type 4 Mark 1 Model 20 solid-propellant rocket motor provided limited powered flight, enabling trainees to practice guidance techniques before undertaking actual missions.
The Model 43 K-1 Kai on display at Pima was built by the Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho in 1945. Captured by U.S. forces in August 1945, it was transported to the United States for examination. The aircraft was transferred to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for preservation and was placed on loan to the Pima Air & Space Museum in 2014. Due to preservation guidelines, the original fuselage remains unrestored, while the wings, tail group, and cockpit canopies were newly constructed to complete the display.Pima Air & Space.
The aircraft is marked in the livery of the Imperial Japanese Navy, circa 1945, reflecting its intended operational role.