| F1A | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissancefloatplane |
| National origin | Empire of Japan |
| Manufacturer | Aichi |
| Number built | 2 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1936 |
TheAichi F1A (designatedAB-13 by its designers and manufacturers atAichi) was a prototypeJapanesefloatplane of the 1930s. A single-enginedbiplane, the F1A was intended as a short-range observation aircraft suitable for operation off theImperial Japanese navy's warships, but only two were built, theMitsubishi F1M being selected instead.
The F1A was designed byAichi in response to a 1935 specification, issued to Aichi,Kawanishi andMitsubishi for a replacement for theImperial Japanese Navy'sNakajima E8Nfloatplanes, which were used for short-ranged reconnaissance and observation missions from the Navy's warships. Aichi at first considered a low-wingedmonoplane design, theAM-10, to meet this requirement, but this was rejected in favour of a more conventionalbiplane design, theAB-13.[1][2]
The AB-13 was a small single-bay biplane of mixed construction. It had woodenstressed-skin wings withplywood skinning thatfolded to allow easy storage aboard ship, while combat flaps were fitted as the aircraft was required to have sufficient maneuverability for air combat as well as its normal observation missions. The fuselage was of metal construction, with the pilot sitting in an open cockpit, but the observer's position being enclosed. Both float and wheeled undercarriages were designed, with the seaplane having a single main float, while the landplane version had a fixedtailwheel undercarriage. Power was provided by a singleNakajima Hikariradial engine.[3]
Two prototypes of the AB-13, designatedExperimental 10-Shi[a] Observation Aircraft and with theshort system designation F1A were built, the first a floatplane and the second with wheeled undercarriage, both being completed in 1936.[3] Although Mitsubishi's competingF1M1 prototypes had poor stability both on the water and in the air, they had superior performance to Aichi's design. Mitsubishi redesigned its aircraft as the F1M2, eliminating its handling problems,[4] and it was selected for production in 1940.[5]
Data fromJapanese Aircraft, 1910–1941[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament