Kawasaki C-1

The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engined, short-range military transport built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and used only by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Development began in 1966 to give the service a jet-powered, home-built replacement for its ageing Second World War Curtiss C-46 Commando transports. It first flew on 12 November 1970 and quantity production began the next year. Other Japanese firms shared the work, with Mitsubishi building the tail and much of the fuselage and Fuji Heavy Industries most of the wings. The type formed the backbone of Japanese airlift for the later twentieth century, though plans for more were cut when the American C-130H Hercules was bought instead. The larger Kawasaki C-2 is replacing it.