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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0937.PDF
APRIT. 30TH, 1942 FLIGHT 4Ji JAPAN'S AIR POWER New Developments : Axis Co-operation : The Organisation 0/ the Air Arm Training : The Importance of the Naval Air Arm (Continued from page 397, April 23rd) THE Japanese technical science, inspired as it is by the work of other nations, has hitherto de veloped very little original design. It is reported that a new type of recon naissance aircraft has been developed by the Mitsubishi Company and em ployed in the fighting for Malaya. This type of aircraft is said to have ^ood manoeuvrability and a better syeed than any other Japanese air craft. It is possible that its construc tion will have a profound influence on the future development of Japanese aircraft types. That the Japanese attach considerable importance to this new type is demonstrated by the fact that the two designers have been decorated by the Japanese Govern ment and awarded a prize of 20,000 yen. Hitherto the Japanese aircraft in dustry has never produced a type which would be pioneering in the de velopment of aircraft design. In fact, the tendency for emulation is dis played both in the construction of engines and airframes. The Kinsei engines, which seem to be increasingly popular, are based on the technical development which fol lowed the acquisition of manufacturing rights for the Gnome-Rhone and Siddeley engines. Looking carefully at the various types of Japanese aircraft, one has no difficulty in tracing their pedigree. This is particularly striking in the four-engined bombers of the Army Air Force, of which two types are reported to be in existence. The Mitsubishi 92 long-range bomber, powered with four Mitsubishi A. 14 "Kinsei" 14-cylinder twin-row air-cooled radials of 950 h.p. each, strongly resembles the old Junkers G38. The Army 96 four- engined long-range bomber, which has a speed of 260 m.p.h., range of 2,200 miles and a maximum bomb load of 3,ooolb., is a close version of the Fiat B.R.20. (Incidentally, the latter had a very short life in the Battle of Britain.) Whether these types, par ticularly the Mitsubishi 92, are still considered by the Japanese as first- line equipment is impossible to say. But, if this obsolete Mitsubishi 92 has been taken off the equipment list of the Army Air Force, it is quite likely that a more modern type of a four- engined bomber has since been de veloped. It is feasible that the proto type of the Douglas DC 4 four-engined (Below) Kawanishi T97 flying boat, a more recent type of Japan's naval air arm. (Right) Mitsubishi T96, an exten sively used dive-bomber. NAVY FIGHTERS Type Mitsubishi T96 2a Nakaj!ma95 ... Mitsubishi T97 ... Nalta. bnaT97 ... Mitsubishi 00 ... General Description Siugle-seater, low-wing monoplane with fixed divided type undercarriage and spats. Flap« and wing root fillets, rounded fin and rudder. Cockpit with head firing extending along fuselage, merging into fin, pointed fuselage and projecting beyond tail unit. Metal construction. Single-seater fighter of mixed construction. Equipped for blind (lying. First produced in 1935 and probably copied from the 1928 Boeing P-12. Almost indistinguishable from the early Nakajima 90 and 94 fighters Single-seater. 1 ikely to be the Mitsubishi T96/2B with minor modifications. Single- engine, low-wing monoplane with retract able undercarriage. Single-seater. Basically resembles the Mit subishi T96 fighter. Performance and range slightly improved on the preceding Mit subishi T97. Single-seat low-wing monoplane. All-metal stressed-skin construction. Fitted flaps ; transparent perspex-covered cockpit ; single fin and rudder. HydraulicaMy controlled retractable undercarriage. • Dimensions : Span, Length, Wing Area 30ft. 24.5ft. 170 sq.ft. (5) 40ft. 25ft. 170sq. ft. (?) 35.5ft. 25.6ft. 100 sq. ft. 39.4ft. 28.4ft. 250 sq. ft. Tower Plan! 1 Kinsei air-cooled radial of 730 h.p. at 9,000ft. £ blade - metal airscrews. 1 Kotobuki 9 cvl. radial of 500 to 000 h.p 9-cyIinder air-cooled radial of 650 h.p. at 9,000ft. 3-blade vari able pitch airscrews One Nakajima air- cooled radial of 750 h.p. at 13,000ft. 8- blade metal airscrew. One Nakajima N.K.I. 14-cyl. air- cooled radial of 900 h.p. at 15,000ft. Performance Normal weight 4,300 lb. Maximum speed 250 m.p.h. at 9,000ft. Service ceiling 31,000ft. Cruising speed 217 m.p.h. with a range of 440 miles or 2 hours on 80 gallons. Maximum speed 215 m.p.h. at S.L. Climbs to 9,000ft. in 5 min. Range 3 hours. Ceiling 28,000ft. Normal load 4,500 lb. Maximum speed 265 m.p.h. at 11,000ft. Service ceiling 30,000ft. Cruising speed 225 m.p.h. with a range of 590 miles, or 2.6 hours, on 80 gallons. Maximum tankage 110 gallons. Normal load 4,300 lb. Maximum speed 270 m.p.h. at 15,000ft. Ceiling ja.oooft. Cruising at 233 m.p.b. Range 460 miles. Maximum speed with a normal flying weight of 5,140 lb. is 315 miles per hour at 10,000ft. Service ceiling 36,000ft. Range 590 miles at 265 m.p.h., but can be increased to 1 600 miles at 160 m.p.h. by fitting with external fuel tanks. Armament 2 x 7.7 mm. fixed lor. ward fuselage. Possi bly 2x7.7 mm. fixed forward wings. 2x1 mg. firing through the airscrew hub, fixed in the fuselage. Light bombs up to 80 lb. 2x 7.7 mm. fixed to ward fuselage. 1 x 7.7 mm. fixed for ward fuselage 2x7.7 mm. fixed forward wings. 2 x 7.7 mm. cannons firing through the airscrew disc. 2x20 mm in the wings. 7 hesi ables are basal upon information obtained from llie Bri ish Air Ministry.
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