The Aichi H9A was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service flying boat used during the first years of World War II for crew training, receiving the designation "Type 2 Training Flying Boat"(二式練習飛行艇, Ni-shiki renshū hikō-tei). An uncommon type, it was not encountered by Allied forces until Spring 1945 and was never assigned an Allied reporting name.

Design and development

The H9A was a twin-engined, parasol-wing flying boat, designated by Aichi as their AM-21 design. It was designed in response to an Imperial Japanese Navy requirement for an advanced seaplane trainer for future crew members of the four-engined Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boat. Design work started in January 1940, and the first of three prototypes was flown in September 1940. The aircraft had a normal crew of five (pilot, co-pilot, observer, flight engineer, and a radio-operator), but seating was provided for an additional three pupil crew members.

Operational history

From May – June 1942, the Aichi H9A was employed in a variety of second-line roles, including anti-submarine missions along the Japanese coasts, transport, paratroop training, and liaison.[citation needed]

Variants

H9A Prototypes

3 aircraft built by Aichi.

H9A1

Serial version, 24 aircraft built by Aichi and an additional 4 by Nippon Hikoki.

Operators

Japan

Specifications (H9A1)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War; Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats

General characteristics

  • Crew: 5
  • Capacity: 3 pupils
  • Length: 16.95 m (55 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 24 m (78 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 5.25 m (17 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 63.3 m2 (681 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,900 kg (10,803 lb)
  • Gross weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,500 kg (16,535 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Nakajima Ha-1 Kotobuki 42 or 43 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 530 kW (710 hp) each for take-off

450 kW (610 hp) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)

  • Propellers: 3-bladed propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 317 km/h (197 mph, 171 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 222 km/h (138 mph, 120 kn) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
  • Range: 2,148 km (1,335 mi, 1,160 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,780 m (22,240 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 11 minutes 14 seconds
  • Wing loading: 110.6 kg/m2 (22.7 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.151 kW/kg (0.092 hp/lb)

Armament

  • Guns: 1× flexible, 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine gun in bow and dorsal hatches
  • Bombs: 2× 250 kg (551 lb) bombs or depth charges

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

Bibliography

  • Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  • Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1962 (5th impression 1972). ISBN 0-356-01449-5.

External links