The Mitsubishi Ki-51 had the Japanese Army designation "Type 99", the Guntei was a light bomber/dive bomber. It flew first in 1939 and was called "Sonia" by the Allies. In service with the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War it was first used in China and later Burma. As the war drew to a close, several aircraft were used in kamikaze attacks. Total production was about 2,300 aircraft.
Mitsubishi Ki-51 Guntei "Sonia"
This is an original K-51 Guntei and was one of several Japanese aircraft abandoned at Java Indonesia after the Second World War's end. This aircraft is on display at the Indonesian Air Force Museum "Pusat TNI AU Dirgantara Mandala" at Yogyakarta in Central Java, Indonesia. During the conflict in 1947 to gain independence by Indonesia after the Second World War, it was according to the museum information "used by Nationalists". The explanation board shows Mitsubishi 98, but it is a Ki-51 Guntei. It has a number "G-32" on the aircraft tail.
Photographed 2016 by Henk Hirs, (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Only a few plastic scale models have been released of the Ki-51. In 1/48 scale by Nichimo and in 1/72 by Hasegawa.
This walkaround web page was first created January 2017