In March 1927, the Navy decided to manufacture an experimental aircraft funded by a program sponsored by the Kaibo Gikai (Maritime Defense Volunteer Association), and named the project: 'Research of Material for All-metal Aircraft'. Kawasaki was awarded the project by the Navy. It was to be a single-engine carrier reconnaissance aircraft having an all-metal structure with fabric covering. It had a fully cantilever parasol wing with marked sweepback, and large area slotted flaps, the first in Japan and probably the first in the world. At that time, no monoplane existed for carrier-based aircraft and there were certainly none with cantilever wings and slotted flaps. The fuselage was unusual being almost triangular in the cross section. The structure of the aircraft was heavily influenced by Dornier design practices.
Design begun in March 1927 and completed in June 1928 under the leadership of Junichiro Nagahata and his assistant Hiroshi Sato. Both engineers had been in charge of aircraft design at the Aviation Research Department, Naval Technical Research Institute. The aircraft was built at the Kawasaki Dockyard, with the construction being completed in September 1928. Flight tests began in March 1929 at Kasumigaura under the control of Navy Cdr Sakae Yamamoto. However, tests were suspended after very few flights because of problems with flap operation. The flaps were considered to be a major feature of this aircraft and their use at such an early date deserves to be recorded in aeronautical engineering history. But early suspension of the tests without further refinements to the flaps, coupled with top-secret security, resulted in the lack of public awareness and has deprived this design of its rightful place in history. With this aircraft Kawasaki's affiliation with the Japanese Navy ended, and the company became solely a manufacturer of Army aircraft and a few civil types.
General characteristics
Single-engine cantilever parasol-monoplane with slotted flap system. All-metal construction with fabric covering.
Crew: two in open cockpits
Length: 10.65m (34ft 111/2in)
Span: 16.60m (54ft 51/2in)
Height: 3.18m (10ft 51/4in)
Wing area: 43.70sq m (470.3 98sq ft)
Wing loading: 41.2kg/sq m (8.41b/sq ft)
Power loading: 4kg/hp (8.81b/hp)
Empty weight: 1,200kg (2,6451b)
Gross weight: 1,800kg (3,9681b)
Powerplant: 450-600hp Mitsubishi-Hispano-Suiza twelve-cylinder vee water-cooled engine, driving a two-bladed wooden propeller.
Performance
Maximum speed: 142kt (164mph) at sea level
Service ceiling: 10,000m (32,808ft)
Endurance 3 hours
Multi-view illustration from Encyclopedia Vol.4
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