Yokosuka D3Y

The Yokosuka D3Y Myojo was a Japanese two-seat dive bomber/trainer.

Derived from the Aichi D3A, it was made nearly entirely of wood in an attempt to conserve valuable resources.

Upon Japan’s surrender, the project came to a halt with only a few aircraft delivered as the Navy Type 99 Bomber Trainer Model 22.

Variants

D3Y1-K Myojo (Navy Type 99 Bomber Trainer Model 22) 

A two-seat wooden dive-bomber trainer.

Powered by a 1,300 hp (970 kW) Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 radial engine, based on the Aichi D3A2-K, with significant changes to allow production in wood.

Two prototypes and three production aircraft built.

D3Y2-K Myojo 

Single-seat special attack version (Kamikaze) of the D3Y1.

The undercarriage would be jettisoned on take-off since the aircraft was not expected to return.

The prototype had begun construction, but was still incomplete, when the war ended.

D5Y1 Myojo Kai 

Production designation given to the D3Y2-K.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

11.515 m (37 ft 9 in)

Wingspan

14 m (45 ft 11 in)

Height

4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)

Wing area

30.5 m2 (328 sq ft)

Empty weight

3,050 kg (6,724 lb)

Gross weight

4,630 kg (10,207 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 62,

14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engine,

1,160 kW (1,560 hp) for take-off

1,000 kW (1,340 hp) at 2,100 m (6,900 ft)

890 kW (1,190 hp) at 5,800 m (19,000 ft)

Propellers

3-bladed constant-speed metal propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

470 km/h (290 mph, 250 kn) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)

Cruise speed

296 km/h (184 mph, 160 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)

Range

1,472 km (915 mi, 795 nmi)

Time to altitude

6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 11 minutes 45 seconds

Power/mass

4.0 kg/kW (6.5 lb/hp)

Armament

Guns

2x 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 Mark 1 machine gun in the engine cowling.

Bombs

1x 800 kg (1,800 lb) bomb.