"SchWEEBe"~

Nakajima J9Y Kikka

The Nakajima J9Y Kikka was Japqan’s first turbojet-powered aircraft, developed late in WWII as a compact, simple jet attack/fighter-bomber inspired by German jet progress (the Me 262 sparked the project). Nakajima’s design used two Ishikawajima Ne-20 centrifugal/axial turbojets (derived from German technology), simplified structure for mass/low-skill production, and foldable wings so airframes could be hidden in tunnels and shelters. The prototype first taxied and flew at Kisarazu on 7 August 1945 (a roughly 20-minute flight). A second flight attempt with RATO boosters ended in a failed takeoff/accident, and the program was overtaken by Japan’s surrender — one flown prototype, a second unflown, a third nearly complete, and ~20–25 airframes in various stages when production stopped.

Notes that it was not an identical Me 262 copy — smaller and optimized for short, simple manufacture — and its official late-war internal label was Koukoku Ni-gou Heiki (“Imperial Weapon No. 2”). There’s also frequent confusion/mixing of designations (J9N, J9Y, etc.) in postwar sources; museum and archival work usually clarifies the official naming.

Yokosuka be like: I'm not even involved for making that Hikoki, and you dare to stole my designation?

Possible Aircraft Nicknames:

• "Kikka" : the most common English rendering; used by museums and media.

• “Orange Blossom”/“Tachibana (Orange) Blossom” more literal pronunciation of "Kikka" itself; widely used in museum captions and articles. Many photos/plaques call it this.

• “Imperial Weapon No. 2 (Koukoku Ni-gou Heiki)" — the project’s late-war descriptive designation; appears in technical histories and collectors’ writeups. Hobbyists use it when discussing the aircraft’s strategic intended role.

• “Kitsuka” (vs. Kikka) pronunciation debate : you’ll see threads arguing whether the post-war phonetic “Kikka” or a historical reading “Kitsuka” is more correct; both appear in literature and forum threads. (Well, idk but it must be there is even a mispronunciational joke to "Kickass" :'v)

• “Me-262 derivative”/“mini-Me”/"mini-Schwalbe" — informal, sometimes affectionate tag used by gamers and model forums to place the Kikka in the context of late-war Axis jet design; not a formal name but common shorthand. Use with caution (it understates the Kikka’s differences).

• “Wild Orange Blossom”/“Cherry/Orange blossom (kamikaze connotation)” — some modelling/community posts link the floral name to the wider late-war “flower” nomenclature for special attack projects and speculate (sometimes without firm evidence) about kamikaze roles; this shows up in forum chatter and modelling threads. Treat as speculative or rhetorical rather than an official operational nickname.

• Just add yours in the comments, let's discuss :)

C O N T R O L S
Trim : Flaps, cruising 'rotate' adjuster
VTOL : Further flaps