Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #5 - revised

IJAAF jack stands

Four jack stands raise the second or third Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" prototype. These three-legged metal jack stands were the most commonly used by the IJAAF. The legs could collapse or be permanently attached.

Another "Shoki", this time of the Dokuritsu 47 Chutai, is raised by no less than four jack stands. Note the two raising the rear part of the fuselage.

These metal stands can be seen with most IJAAF units even at the front in the Pacific or in the CBI.

Wooden jack stands were less common with IJAAF combat units. These were used by aircraft manufacturers and are usually seen as supporting prototypes.

All stands had a wooden top and above that, they had some rubber or a piece of cloth for smoother attachment to the plane surface.

This wooden jack stand with extra metal fittings supporting the nose of Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" is of a completely different design than the rest.

A wooden jack stand lies abandoned at the end of the war. Again, the design is different than the rest. Note behind it another jack stand, of the same design, supporting the tail of a Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien" (Tony) and a small stand, also seen in the previous "Dinah" photo, supporting the belly.

This is a rarely-seen double metal jack stand found near a Ki-100.

Bigger aircraft like this Mitsubishi Ki-109 naturally needed bigger jack stands. The ones in the photo closeup, seem to be all metal with extra metal fittings for additional strength. But, again, these were not that common and were mostly found around the airfields of mainland Japan.

In this photo, a 244 Sentai "Hien" is having her guns calibrated. Note the special stand.

This complicated pneumatic(?) jack stand design is seen supporting a Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) at one of the Kawasaki factories. I have not found any other photos of this jack stand design.

Bellerophon commented:

The one under the Nick is hydraulic. The pump on one leg is pretty similar to grease guns, with a handle to pump the oil. Technically I guess you would call it a jack rather than a jackstand. There must be a jackstand out of view to hold up the plane if the jack fails.

An IJAAF Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) that had just been handed over to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), is been inspected by members from both air forces. Note the classic IJAAF tripod jack stands under the wings and the stool lifting the tail. I've seen many Thai "Hayabusa" models, but none with jack stands. Anyone up to the task?