Kawanishi's first aircraft, the Kawanishi K-1, was designed as a mail carrier. It was the first Japanese aircraft to receive a Certificate of Airworthiness from the Aviation Bureau. It won a prize in a national contest but was not a commercial success and only one was built.
Design work on the K-1 began in February 1921 and construction was completed in December 1920. It had an American engine and was influenced by current American engineering practices.[1]
With an all-wood structure and fabric covering it was a two bay biplane with rectangular plan wings, each bay separated by parallel pairs of interplane struts. The upper wing was joined to the fuselage by a cabane formed by parallel pairs of short struts on each side. The lower wing passed just below the fuselage.[1]
The K-1 was powered by a 200–244 hp (149–182 kW) Hall-Scott L-6 water-cooled six cylinder inline mounted in a bullet-shaped nose. Behind the engine the fuselage was flat-sided with rounded decking. There were two open cockpits close together, the forward one under the trailing edge of the wing, which had a cut-out to improve the upward field of view. The tail was conventional with generous horizontal surfaces mounted on top of the fuselage.[1]
Its landing gear was fixed and conventional with a short tail skid but details of the main legs and wheels are lacking.[1]
The first flight was made around the turn of 1920-1. Later, it was re-engined with a 180 hp (130 kW) Daimler engine and directional stability was improved was increased with a new, long, low, flat-topped fin of greater area.[1]
Operational historyedit
In May 1921, quite soon after the first flight, the K-1 competed in the Second Prize-winning Flight Competition, sponsored by the Imperial Flying Association. Flown by Yukicho Goto, it won the distance prize with a flight of 686 km (426 mi; 370 nmi) in 4 hr 50 min. It also gained second prize in the speed contest, reaching 192 km/h (119 mph; 104 kn).[1]
The Japanese Aviation Bureau began issuing Certificates of Airworthiness on 11 May 1921 and the K-1 received the first of these.[1]
Despite its competition success, the K-1 was not accepted as a commercial mail carrier and only one was built.[1]
^ abcdefghiMikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam Publishing. p. 125. ISBN1-55750-563-2.
May 02, 2024
kawanishi, kawanishi, first, aircraft, designed, mail, carrier, first, japanese, aircraft, receive, certificate, airworthiness, from, aviation, bureau, prize, national, contest, commercial, success, only, built, role, mail, carrier, national, origin, japan, ma. Kawanishi s first aircraft the Kawanishi K 1 was designed as a mail carrier It was the first Japanese aircraft to receive a Certificate of Airworthiness from the Aviation Bureau It won a prize in a national contest but was not a commercial success and only one was built Kawanishi K 1 Role Mail carrier National origin Japan Manufacturer Kawanishi Aircraft Designer Eiji Sekiguchi First flight December 1920 early 1921 Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 4 ReferencesDesign and development editDesign work on the K 1 began in February 1921 and construction was completed in December 1920 It had an American engine and was influenced by current American engineering practices 1 With an all wood structure and fabric covering it was a two bay biplane with rectangular plan wings each bay separated by parallel pairs of interplane struts The upper wing was joined to the fuselage by a cabane formed by parallel pairs of short struts on each side The lower wing passed just below the fuselage 1 The K 1 was powered by a 200 244 hp 149 182 kW Hall Scott L 6 water cooled six cylinder inline mounted in a bullet shaped nose Behind the engine the fuselage was flat sided with rounded decking There were two open cockpits close together the forward one under the trailing edge of the wing which had a cut out to improve the upward field of view The tail was conventional with generous horizontal surfaces mounted on top of the fuselage 1 Its landing gear was fixed and conventional with a short tail skid but details of the main legs and wheels are lacking 1 The first flight was made around the turn of 1920 1 Later it was re engined with a 180 hp 130 kW Daimler engine and directional stability was improved was increased with a new long low flat topped fin of greater area 1 Operational history editIn May 1921 quite soon after the first flight the K 1 competed in the Second Prize winning Flight Competition sponsored by the Imperial Flying Association Flown by Yukicho Goto it won the distance prize with a flight of 686 km 426 mi 370 nmi in 4 hr 50 min It also gained second prize in the speed contest reaching 192 km h 119 mph 104 kn 1 The Japanese Aviation Bureau began issuing Certificates of Airworthiness on 11 May 1921 and the K 1 received the first of these 1 Despite its competition success the K 1 was not accepted as a commercial mail carrier and only one was built 1 Specifications editData from Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 1 General characteristicsCrew Two Length 7 50 m 24 ft 7 in Wingspan 10 m 32 ft 10 in Height 2 55 m 8 ft 4 in Wing area 28 5 m2 307 sq ft Airfoil USA 1 Empty weight 775 kg 1 709 lb Gross weight 1 159 kg 2 555 lb Powerplant 1 Hall Scott L 6 water cooled six cylinder inline Propellers 2 bladed wooden Performance Maximum speed 200 km h 124 mph 108 kn Landing speed 85 km h 53 mph 46 kn Endurance 5 hr Service ceiling 6 000 m 20 000 ft References edit a b c d e f g h i Mikesh Robert C Abe Shorzoe 1990 Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 London Putnam Publishing p 125 ISBN 1 55750 563 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kawanishi K 1 amp oldid 1101724732, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
