The Aichi AB-4 was a Japanese flying boat of the 1930s. A single engined biplane, the AB-4 was intended to carry out night reconnaissance for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Six were built and accepted into service as the Experimental 6-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat, three of which were converted to civil transports.
In 1931, the Imperial Japanese Navy instructed the Aichi Tokei Denki Seizo KK. (Aichi Watch and Electric Machinery Company, Ltd), who had been involved in aircraft manufacture, particularly for the Navy, since 1920, to design a small catapult-launched night reconnaissance aircraft, intended to observe nocturnal shipping movements, spot naval gunfire during night engagements and to direct friendly submarines.[1] The resulting design, designated AB-4 ("Aichi Biplane") by Aichi was a single-engined pusherbiplaneflying boat of all-metal construction. Its single-bay wings folded backwards for storage aboard ship, while its crew of three were housed in open cockpits. It was powered by a single Gasuden Urakaze water-cooled six-cylinder inline engine driving a two blade propeller.[2]
The first prototype flew in May 1932, and while handling was generally good, it had poor control during take-off and landing, and a poor view for the pilot. Despite this, a further five prototypes were ordered for evaluation.[2]
Operational historyedit
The six prototypes, designated Experimental 6-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat[3] were subject to extensive testing and evaluation by the Japanese Navy. While the Navy decided not to order further production of the AB-4,[2] it had a continued requirement for a dedicated night reconnaissance aircraft, which resulted in the Specification that led to the Aichi E10A, which entered service in 1936.[4]
In 1935, three of the six AB-4s were sold to the Japanese Airline Nippon Koku Yuso Kenkyusho, (NKYK). The first aircraft was converted to a cargo transport, while the second and third aircraft were converted to passenger airliners, with the pilot's cockpit moved to the extreme nose (replacing the existing gunners position) and an enclosed passenger cabin, for five and six passengers respectively, added. The third prototype replaced the Gasuden engine with a more powerful Napier Lion.[5]
The three AB-4s were used by NKYK in scheduled services from Osaka, and for sightseeing flights. One crashed into a factory chimney on 27 May 1937, killing all five aboard.[6]
Specifications (Experimental 6-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat)edit
^In the Japanese Navy designation system, specifications were given a Shi number based on the year of the Emperor's reign the specification was issued. In this case 6-Shi stood for 1931.
Mikesh, Robert and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. London:Putnam, 1990. ISBN0-85177-840-2.
External linksedit
(Japanese Language)
January 01, 1970
aichi, japanese, flying, boat, 1930s, single, engined, biplane, intended, carry, night, reconnaissance, imperial, japanese, navy, were, built, accepted, into, service, experimental, night, reconnaissance, flying, boat, three, which, were, converted, civil, tra. The Aichi AB 4 was a Japanese flying boat of the 1930s A single engined biplane the AB 4 was intended to carry out night reconnaissance for the Imperial Japanese Navy Six were built and accepted into service as the Experimental 6 Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat three of which were converted to civil transports AB 4 Role Night reconnaissance flying boat National origin Japan Manufacturer Aichi Kokuki First flight May 1932 Primary users Imperial Japanese NavyNippon Koku Yuso Kenkyusho Number built 6 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Experimental 6 Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment and design editIn 1931 the Imperial Japanese Navy instructed the Aichi Tokei Denki Seizo KK Aichi Watch and Electric Machinery Company Ltd who had been involved in aircraft manufacture particularly for the Navy since 1920 to design a small catapult launched night reconnaissance aircraft intended to observe nocturnal shipping movements spot naval gunfire during night engagements and to direct friendly submarines 1 The resulting design designated AB 4 Aichi Biplane by Aichi was a single engined pusher biplane flying boat of all metal construction Its single bay wings folded backwards for storage aboard ship while its crew of three were housed in open cockpits It was powered by a single Gasuden Urakaze water cooled six cylinder inline engine driving a two blade propeller 2 The first prototype flew in May 1932 and while handling was generally good it had poor control during take off and landing and a poor view for the pilot Despite this a further five prototypes were ordered for evaluation 2 Operational history editThe six prototypes designated Experimental 6 Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat 3 were subject to extensive testing and evaluation by the Japanese Navy While the Navy decided not to order further production of the AB 4 2 it had a continued requirement for a dedicated night reconnaissance aircraft which resulted in the Specification that led to the Aichi E10A which entered service in 1936 4 In 1935 three of the six AB 4s were sold to the Japanese Airline Nippon Koku Yuso Kenkyusho NKYK The first aircraft was converted to a cargo transport while the second and third aircraft were converted to passenger airliners with the pilot s cockpit moved to the extreme nose replacing the existing gunners position and an enclosed passenger cabin for five and six passengers respectively added The third prototype replaced the Gasuden engine with a more powerful Napier Lion 5 The three AB 4s were used by NKYK in scheduled services from Osaka and for sightseeing flights One crashed into a factory chimney on 27 May 1937 killing all five aboard 6 Specifications Experimental 6 Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat editData from Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 2 General characteristicsCrew 3 Length 9 75 m 32 ft 0 in Wingspan 13 5 m 44 ft 3 in Height 3 94 m 12 ft 11 in Wing area 47 1 m2 507 sq ft Empty weight 1 610 kg 3 549 lb Gross weight 2 350 kg 5 181 lb Max takeoff weight 2 600 kg 5 732 lb when catapult launched Powerplant 1 Gasuden Urakaze 6 cylinder water cooled inverted in line piston engine 220 250 kW 300 330 hp Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch pusher propeller Performance Maximum speed 164 km h 102 mph 89 kn Cruise speed 113 km h 70 mph 61 kn Stall speed 84 km h 52 mph 45 kn at 1 000 m 3 300 ft Service ceiling 3 500 m 11 500 ft Time to altitude 2 800 m 9 200 ft in 60 minutes 50 seconds Wing loading 50 kg m2 10 lb sq ft Power mass 0 095 kW kg 0 058 hp lb Armament Guns 1 7 7 mm 0 303 in machine gun on a flexible mount in the bow cockpit Bombs FlaresSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aichi E10A Aichi E11AReferences edit Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 70 71 a b c d Mikesh and Abe 1990 p 71 In the Japanese Navy designation system specifications were given a Shi number based on the year of the Emperor s reign the specification was issued In this case 6 Shi stood for 1931 Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 76 77 Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 71 72 Mikesh and Abe 1990 p 72 Mikesh Robert and Abe Shorzoe Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 London Putnam 1990 ISBN 0 85177 840 2 External links editAichi AB 4 Transport Flying boat Japanese Language Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aichi AB 4 amp oldid 1192805943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
