The Aichi E16A Zuiun was a two-seater reconnaissance seaplane utilised by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
It was developed in response to a 1939 specification seeking a replacement for the Aichi E13A, which had not yet been approved by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) at that time.
Due to disagreements over the requirements outlined in the 14-Shi specification, most manufacturers did not submit designs.
However, in 1941, a new 16-Shi specification was created by the IJNAS based on the Aichi AM-22 design, which had been previously developed by Aichi engineers Kishiro Matsuo and Yasuhiro Ozawa.
The initial AM-22, initially designated as Navy Experimental 16-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane and later as E16A1, was finished by May 1942.
It was a traditional, low-wing monoplane with two floats and a unique characteristic of dive brakes positioned in the front legs of the float struts, enabling it to function as a dive bomber when needed.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
10.833 m (35 ft 6 in)
Wingspan
12.81 m (42 ft 0 in)
Height
4.791 m (15 ft 9 in)
Wing area
28 m2 (300 sq ft)
Empty weight
2,945 kg (6,493 lb)
Gross weight
3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
Max take-off weight
4,553 kg (10,038 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Mitsubishi MK8D Kinsei 54,
14-cylinder air cooled radial piston engine
970 kW (1,300 hp) for take-off
895 kW (1,200 hp) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
820 kW (1,100 hp) at 6,200 m (20,341 ft)
Propellers
3 bladed constant speed propellers
Performance
Maximum speed
439 km/h (273 mph, 237 kn) at 5,500 m (18,045 ft)
Cruise speed
333 km/h (207 mph, 180 kn) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
Range
1,176 km (731 mi, 635 nmi)
Ferry range
2,420 km (1,500 mi, 1,310 nmi)
Service ceiling
10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Rate of climb
10 m/s (2,000 ft/min)
Time to altitude
3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 4 minutes, 40 seconds
Wing loading
139.3 kg/m2 (28.5 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.2491 kW/kg (0.1515 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns
2 x fixed forward firing 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 Mark 2 machine guns in the wings
&
1 x flexible rearward firing 13 mm (0.512 in) Type 2 machine gun for the observer
Bombs
250 kg (551 lb) of bombs
Sources Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941-R C Mikesh & A Shorzoe. The Xplanes of Imperial Japanese Army & Navy 1924-1945-Illustrated Warplane History.
