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Aichi H9A1 (二式練習用飛行艇)
The Aichi H9A1 is a Japanese flying boat that was created in 1940 and was introduced into service in 1942. It is probably the only mass-produced Japanese aircraft that did not receive the Allied code name (there is also the Ki-100, but that’s another topic). Between 28 and 31 Aichi H9A1 aircraft were built.
History
In 1939, the Japanese Navy was looking for a successor to the unsuccessful Yokosuka H5Y aircraft, which was to be used to train the crews of the H6K flying boats and the future H8K. The Aichi Works volunteered to make the new aircraft, where the project under the leadership of Morishige Mori began in May 1939. The project was completed in December 1939, and the first prototype was ready in March 1940. It was sent for testing in September 1940, the first prototype turned out to be a fiasco, so in the second prototype the wings were enlarged and lengthened, the floats were modified and the engines were changed. The second prototype was more successful, and the third prototype made a few minor changes. The Japanese naval command was satisfied with the performance of the latest prototype of the H9A aircraft, and in early 1942 the aircraft was introduced into service and serial production began. However, at this point in the war, the Japanese began to place more and more emphasis on land aviation, not flying boats, so quickly the serial production of H9A1 aircraft was limited and was ended in 1943 after the production of 28 serial H9A1 aircraft. At the beginning, the H9A1 aircraft were used according to the design to train flight crews, but in 1944 the war situation was becoming more and more difficult, so some of the planes changed their purpose. Some of the H9A1 aircraft were redirected to anti-submarine warfare, some aircraft were equipped with FD-1 radars in the nose. Some H9A1 aircraft were converted into transport aircraft, and others were used for kamikaze attacks on American ships near Okinawa. Very few H9A1 (probably less than 5) survived until the end of the war, and were later destroyed by American occupation troops.
Construction description
The Aichi H9A1 aircraft was a twin-engine flying boat with umbrella wings of a metal structure covered with light sheets, plywood and canvas. The plane had landing gear partially retractable into the fuselage. The landing gear was used only for ground transport, it was impossible to land on it. The crew consisted of 5 people plus 3 students. The aircraft was powered by two Nakajima Kotobuki 43 engines with a take-off power of 710 hp. The armament consisted of two Type 92 7.7 mm rifles, one on the nose, one on the back behind the wings, in addition, two 250 kg bombs could be mounted under the wings. In addition, the FD-1 radar could be mounted in the nose, which allowed it to detect enemy ships and aircraft.
General characteristics
- Crew: 5 or 8
- Length: 16,95 m
- Wingspan: 24,00 m
- Height: 5,25 m
- Wing area: 63,3 m2
- Empty weight: 5 140 kg
- Gross weight: 7000 kg
- Powerplant: 2 × Nakajima Kotobuki 43, air-cooled nine-cylinder radial engine with take-off power of 530 kW (710 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers with a diameter of 2,950 mm
Performance
- Maximum speed: 324 km/h
- Cruise Speed: 222 km/h
- Range: 1210 km
- Maximum Range: 2800 km
- Service ceiling: 6780 m
- Time to altitude: 11 min. 14 sec. to 5000m
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x Type 92 7.7mm Machine Gun (nose, back)
- Bombs
- 2 x 250 kg bombs
Radar equipment
- 1 x FD-1 Radar in the Nose (Optional)
Special thanks
Summary
The Aichi H9A1 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. It is a flying boat so it has its pros and cons, this plane would be useful in sea battles, but it would have problems landing on land. Visually, it is a very nice aircraft that would be perfect for the first era for Japan. It would be a beautiful sight to see the combination of H6K4 and H9A1 flying in a common formation. 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
二式練習用飛行艇 - Wikipedia
二式練習用飛行艇／Aichi H9A：大日本帝国海軍 航空機
Aichi H9A - Wikipedia
The Aichi H9A1: A Mini Sea Dragon! - Passed for Consideration - War Thunder - Official Forum
Aiči H9A1 : Aiči
Aichi H9A Info
Aichi H9A Учебная летающая лодка - Япония
Pacific Wrecks - Aichi H9A1 Type 2 Training Flying Boat Technical Information
Aichi H9A: Training and Transport Over Sea and Shore - World War 2 Planes
Aichi H9A - flying boat, trainer
Aichi H9A Flying-boat trainer
Aichi H9A (Hidroavión Bimotor de Entrenamiento) - La Segunda Guerra Mundial
Aichi H9A
Уголок неба ¦ Aichi H9A
Book sources
- Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 281-283
- La Aviación Japonesa en la Segunda Guerra mundial (Japanese aviation in World War II) page 147-148
Aviones Japonese | PDF | Fuerzas aéreas del ejército de los Estados Unidos | Avión de combate
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