Aichi AB-4
Aichi · Japan · first flew 1932 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Aichi AB-4 was a Japanese flying boat of the 1930s, a single-engined biplane intended for night reconnaissance for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engined pusher biplane flying boat of all-metal construction
- Single-bay wings that fold backwards for storage aboard ship
- Crew of three in open cockpits
A small pusher flying-boat biplane with a water-cooled inline engine driving a two-blade propeller.
Specifications
- The Aichi AB-4 has a length of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.5 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 164 km/h (102 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Navy asked Aichi in 1931 for a small catapult-launched night reconnaissance aircraft. The first prototype flew in May 1932; handling was generally good but control on take-off and landing and the pilot's view were poor.
Variants
Six prototypes were built as the Experimental 6-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat. Three were converted to civil transports, one of which received a Napier Lion engine.
Where you'll see it
The Navy did not order production. Three were sold in 1935 to Nippon Koku Yuso Kenkyusho for services from Osaka and sightseeing; one crashed into a factory chimney on 27 May 1937.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,226 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.