Yokosuka K4Y
{{Short description|Japanese floatplane trainer}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name= K4Y | image=YOKOSUKA K4Y1.jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type= Floatplane trainer | national origin= Japan | manufacturer= Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal | designer= | first flight= 1930 | introduced= 1933 | retired= | status= | primary user= Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service | more users= | produced= | number built= 211 | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
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.{{Harvnb|Mikesh|Abe|1990|pp=273, 277}} 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.{{Harvnb|Mikesh|Abe|1990|p=277}}
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.{{Harvnb|Francillon|1970|p=494}}
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
;{{JPN}}
Specifications (K4Y1 seaplane)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941{{Harvnb|Mikesh|Abe|1990|pp=277–278}}
|prime units?= met
|genhide=
|crew= 2
|capacity=
|length m= 9.05
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m= 10.90
|span ft=
|span in=
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|height m= 3.51
|height ft=
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|wing area sqm= 29.5
|wing area sqft=
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|volume m3=
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|empty weight kg= 740
|empty weight lb=
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|gross weight kg= 990
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|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 name= Gasuden Jimpu 2
|eng1 type= seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp= 130
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|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts= 88
|max speed note= at sea level
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|cruise speed kts= 50
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|range nmi= 170
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|endurance= 3 hours 30 min
|ceiling m= 3460
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|time to altitude= 29 min 20 sec to {{convert|3000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
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References
{{commons category}}
;Notes
{{reflist|2}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last=Francillon |first= René J. |title=Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War |location=London |publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd. |year=1970 |isbn=0-370-00033-1}}
- {{cite book |last1=Mikesh |first1=Robert C. |last2=Abe |first2=Shorzoe |title=Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941 |location=London |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |year=1990 |isbn=0-85177-840-2}}
{{refend}}
{{Yokosuka aircraft}}
{{Japanese Navy short aircraft designations}}