The Aichi H9A was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service flying boat used during the first years of World War II for crew training.
An uncommon type, it was not encountered by Allied forces until spring 1945, and was never assigned an Allied reporting name.
The H9A was a twin engine, parasol wing flying boat, designated by Aichi as their AM-21 design, and was designed in response to an Imperial Japanese Navy requirement for an advanced seaplane trainer for future crew members of the four engine Kawanishi H8K “Emily” flying boat.
Design work started in January 1940 and the first of three prototypes was flown in September 1940.
The aircraft had a normal crew of five, seating was provided for an additional three pupil crew members.
From May – June 1942, the Aichi H9A was employed in a variety of second line roles, including anti submarine missions along the Japanese coasts, transport, paratrooper training and liaison.
Specifications
Crew
5
Capacity
3 Students
Length
16.95 m (55 ft 7 in)
Wingspan
24 m (78 ft 9 in)
Height
5.25 m (17 ft 3 in)
Wing area
63.3 m2 (681 sq ft)
Empty weight
4,900 kg (10,803 lb)
Gross weight
7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
Max take-off weight
7,500 kg (16,535 lb)
Powerplant
2 × Nakajima Ha-1 Kotobuki 42
Or
2 x 43 9-cyinder air-cooled radial piston engine,
530 kW (710 hp) each for take-off
455 kW (610 hp) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
Propellers
3 bladed propellers
Performance
Maximum speed
317 km/h (197 mph, 171 kn) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
Cruise speed
222 km/h (138 mph, 120 kn) at 1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Range
2,148 km (1,335 mi, 1,160 nmi)
Service ceiling
6,780 m (22,240 ft)
Rate of climb
4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)
Time to altitude
3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 11 minutes 14 seconds
Wing loading
110.6 kg/m2 (22.7 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.151 kW/kg (0.092 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns
1× flexible 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine gun in bow and dorsal hatches
