Kawanishi Baika

The Kawanishi Baika, meaning Ume Blossom, was a pulsejet-powered kamikaze aircraft under development toward the end of the Second World War. Kawanishi designed it for the Imperial Japanese Navy as an affordable, disposable successor to the rocket-powered Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka and the turbojet-powered Nakajima Kikka, drawing on German technical data that included the Argus As 014 pulsejet and the Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg, which it visually resembled. It was to use as few critical materials as possible and be simple enough for unskilled labour to build the airframe in dispersed workshops. Three versions were drawn up, one taking off conventionally with droppable landing gear, one launched from a submarine and one launched from a medium bomber. On 5 August 1945 the Baika was chosen over a rival proposal, and an order followed for one prototype and ten twin-seat trainers, but the production documents were never finished before the surrender of Japan, and none was built.