Aichi E7A1 (AB-6)

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AB-6
Aichi E7A1 (AB-6) (七試水上偵察機)
The Aichi E7A1 (AB-6) is a Japanese prototype seaplane created in 1933 for the 7-Shi Navy Competition as a competitor to the Kawanishi E7K1. Only one prototype was built.
History
In 1932, the Japanese Navy launched the 7-Shi competition, for a new reconnaissance seaplane. Aichi and Kawanishi factories were invited to the competition. The requirements for the new aircraft were as follows:

  • It must be capable of catapult launch for use as a base and onboard aircraft.
  • Long range.
  • Stability is good.
  • The maximum speed is over 241 km/h.
  • The engine was to be the Hiro Type 91 Model 1

At the Aichi plant, engineer Tetsuo Miki was assigned to the project, who based the design of the new aircraft on the Aichi AB-5, which had not been built much earlier. The new aircraft received the designation Aichi AB-6 within the factory. The design of the new aircraft was ready in May 1932 and work on it began. By February 1933, the prototype was completed, which made its first flight from the Aichi plant to Nagoya Bay, where it was handed over to the Japanese Navy for testing. However, it turned out that the Aichi E7A1 is a bit slower, and has poor take-off and landing performance. Aichi engineers tried to improve the performance of the aircraft by modifying the wings, changing their profile and the leading edge of the wing. In addition, the propeller was changed, first from a metal two-bladed propeller to a wooden two-bladed propeller, and then to a four-bladed propeller. However, these changes, although slightly improved performance, and the nail in the coffin was the transfer of the competitor for testing, i.e. the Kawanishi E7K1 prototype. The Kawanishi aircraft proved to be superior to the Aichi E7A1 and in May 1935 it turned out to be the winner of the 7-Shi competition. After testing, the Aichi E7A1 aircraft was probably scrapped.

Art about Aichi E7A1 (AB-6)

AICHI E7A SIDE

Construction description
Aichi E7A1 is a biplane seaplane equipped with floats. The wings of the aircraft were folded so that it could be transported in the ship. The plane had a metal structure covered with canvas. The crew
consisted of three people (pilot, observer, gunner/navigator) in a closed kopkit. The aircraft was powered by a Hiro Type 91 model 1 engine, a liquid-cooled twelve-cylinder engine with cylinders with a take-off power of 620 hp (456 kW), which drove a wooden four-bladed propeller with a diameter of 3,900 mm. The aircraft’s armament consists of a fixed Type 92 7.7mm machine gun above the engine and two Type 92 7.7mm mobile machine guns (at the rear of the cockpit and on the belly). The aircraft could carry four 30 kg bombs or two 60 kg bombs under the wings.

Technical sketches

AICHI E7A1

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 10,44 m
  • Wingspan: 12,98 m
  • Height: 4,80 m
  • Wing area: 40,61 m2
  • Empty weight: 1920 kg
  • Gross weight: 3020 kg
  • Maximum Take-off Weight: 3300-3360 kg
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hiro Type 91 model 1 engine, a liquid-cooled twelve-cylinder engine with cylinders with a take-off power of 620 hp (456 kW)
  • Propellers: wooden four-bladed propeller with a diameter of 3,900 mm

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 225 km/h
  • Cruise speed: 148 km/h
  • Range: 1850 km
  • Maximum Range: 2460 km
  • Service ceiling: 4 850 m
  • Climb Rate: ?
  • Time to altitude: 13,1 min to 3000 m

Armament

  1. Gun:
  • 1 x Type 92 fixed machine guns 7.7mm above the engine
  • 1 x Mobile Type 92 7.7mm machine gun in the Observer Station
  • 1 x Type 92 7.7mm Movable Machine Gun on Belly
  1. Bombs
  • 4 x 30 kg bombs (under the wings)
  • 2 x 60 kg bombs (under the wings)

Special thanks

Summary
The Aichi E7A1 (AB-6) is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft would be an interesting replacement for the E7K2 aircraft, which can be found on Japanese Navy ships. This aircraft can be used as a fighter/bomber and to capture points in naval battles. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.

Internet sources

七試水上偵察機 - Wikipedia
Aichi AB-6 - Wikipedia
Aiči E7A1 7-Ši (AB-6) : Aiči
IJN Specification 7-Shi (E7, Reconnaissance Seaplane, 1932) | Secret Projects Forum
Уголок неба ¦ Aichi AB-6 (E7A)

Book sources

fun
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
gigachad

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