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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0941.PDF
APRIL 30TH, 1942 F LLC HT 433 JAPAN'S AIR POWER FLYING BOATS (Continued) Type Kawanishi T97 ... Aichi T98 (Aichi 104) Aichi T98 iA Chi 104) General Description Four-engine, parasol monoplane reported to be based on the S42 Sikorsky flying boat, and developed from Kawasaki flying boat operating the Yokohama-Saipan-Pelcw Service. Braced wing and tail unit, twin rudders. Wing floats. Single hull. Crew 10. Single engine, biplane. Three-engine, mid-wing twin float mono plane. Wings tapered to rounded, the tips slight dihedral, single-na tailplane with rounded rudder and 6n. Streamline all- metal fuselage with long cockpit cover Crew 5. Dimensions : Span, Length, Wing Area 131ft. • 81ft. 49.2ft. 36.1ft. 100 sq. ft. 87ft. 63ft. 940 sq. ft. Power Plant Four Kinsei 4C 14 cyl. air-cooled radials of 900 h.p. at 13,000 ft. The nacelles are mounted in the lead ing edge of .the wing. 3 blade metal air screw. One tvpe " 9 " of about 500 h.p. at S.L. Airscrews not known. Three Aichi air- cooled radials of 770 h.p. at 13,000ft. 3- blade metal air screws. Performance Normal weight 45,000 lb. Maximum speed 215 ln.p.h. at 13,00ffft. Service ceiling 26,000ft. Cruising speed 165 m.p.h. with a range of 1.600 miles or 0 hours on 1,500 gallons, or with 3 500 lb. bombs a range of 1,450 miles. Not known, probably about 121 m.p.h. maximum speed at S.L. and about 80 m.p.h. cruising with a range of 1,100 miles or 14 hours. Normal weight 26,400 lb. Maximum speed 230 m.p.h. at 13.000ft. Service ceiling 24,000ft. Cruising speed 199 m.p.h. with a range of 1,000 miles, or 5 hours, with 2,200 lb. bombs and 590 gallons. Armament Turret lorward fuse lage. Turret dorsal. 1X 7.7 mm. free for ward fuselage only installation known Reported armament includes 2x37 mm. but 20 mm. calibre more likely. 1 x " cannon " forward fuselage 4 x 7.7 mm. fixed forward wings 1 X " cannon " (ret dorsal. commercial aircraft purchased by Japan has been adopted for military purposes, and that the Focke-Wulf Fw.200 " Condor "-mentioned before has served as the basis for the develop ment of a military version. While political affiliations did not prevent Japan benefiting from tech nical developments in the U.S.A., it is almost certain that she has taken good advantage of technical improve ments in Italy and Germany. During the " lull period," and as long as rela tions between Russia and Germany were peaceful, she had a direct and undisturbed contact with her Axis partner. But this collaboration was not limited to this period, and con tinued as long as Japan's flag was neutral. By an Imperial Decree of July 26th, 1936, the Japanese Air Forces have been reorganised and a new framework for their activities has been estab lished. While military aviation in Japan, Korea and Formosa came under the command of an army general and a separate Army Air Force was thus created, naval aviation was Mitsubishi T96 2a (Navy fighter) formed into a separate branch under the orders of the Admiralty. Ever since, the problem of an independent Air Force has occupied an important place in the deliberations of Japan's military leaders. Whereas in other countries, however, the approach to this problem was purely objective, in Japan it reflected the strong traditional background of her military forces. For whereas the Army and the Navy are rooted in the Samurai and Bushido traditions and their leadership has been for generations linked with some families, the Air Arm was free from such cast ties. The whole existence and efficiency of the Air Arm depended largely on the selection of men, for their individual mental independence and mechanical aptitude—a new and dynamic factor in Japan's military Nakajima To 5 (Reconnaissance) Kawanishi T97 flying boat based on a Sikorsky design. The Hiro 97 flying boat resembles the French Leo H-24-6.
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