Yokosuka K4Y

Role: Floatplane trainer
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal
First flight: 1930
Introduction: 1933
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built: 211

The Yokosuka K4Y (or Navy Type 90 Seaplane Trainer) was a Japanese floatplane trainer of the 1930s. A single engined two-seat biplane, 211 K4Ys were built between 1933 and 1940, serving as the Imperial Japanese Navy's basic floatplane trainer throughout the Second World War.

Development and design

In 1930, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service's basic seaplane trainer was the Yokosuka K1Y or Type 13 Seaplane Trainer, which had been in use from 1925, and it instructed the First Naval Air Technical Arsenal based at Yokosuka to design a replacement. The design team, led by Jiro Saha and Tamefumi Suzuki designed a single-bay biplane with a welded steel-tube fuselage and wooden wings, it being the first Japanese designed aircraft with such a fuselage.

Yokosuka built two prototypes, powered by 90 hp (67 kW) Hatakaze four-cylinder air-cooled inline engines in 1930, flying in 1930, and after successful testing, a version powered by a 130 hp Gasuden Jimpu radial engine was ordered into production as the Navy Type 90 Seaplane trainer, with the short designation K4Y1.

Operational history

Production began at Watanabe in May 1933, Watanabe building 156 by 1939, with production then transferring to Nippon Hikoki who built a further 53 in 1939-40.

The K4Y1 started to replace the K1Y from 1933, remaining the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service's principal basic seaplane trainer throughout the Pacific war. A few aircraft were released for civilian use.

Units using this aircraft

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Specifications (K4Y1 seaplane)

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 10.90 m (35 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.51 m (11 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 29.5 m (318 sq ft)
Empty weight: 740 kg (1,631 lb)
Gross weight: 990 kg (2,183 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Gasuden Jimpu 2 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 96 kW (129 hp)
Propellers: single blade

Performance

Maximum speed: 163 km/h; 88 kn (101 mph) at sea level
Cruise speed: 92.5 km/h; 50.0 kn (57.5 mph)
Range: 315 km; 170 nmi (196 mi)
Endurance: 3˝ hours
Service ceiling: 3,460 m (11,352 ft)
Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 29 min 20 sec
Wing loading: 33.5 kg/m˛ (6.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 7.6 kg/hp; 16.7 lb/hp

Bibliography

Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (2nd edition 1979, ISBN 0-370 30251-6.
Mikesh, Robert C. and Shorzoe Abe. Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.

Yokosuka K4Y Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia