Gasuden Koken
Gasuden · Japan · first flew 1937 · light aircraft
The Gasuden Koken (Kōken-ki) was a Japanese long-range research aircraft of the 1930s, designed by the Aeronautical Research Institute of Tokyo Imperial University.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.06 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engined low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable undercarriage
- All-metal construction with fabric-covered outer wings and control surfaces
- Kawasaki-built BMW VIII water-cooled V-12 engine
A long-span single-engined research monoplane with a wingspan of nearly 28 m, built to break the world closed-circuit distance record.
Specifications
- The Gasuden Koken has a length of 15.06 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 27.93 m (92 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design was completed in August 1934 and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industry (Gasuden) built it. It was completed in March 1937 and first flew on 25 May 1937, piloted by Major Yuzo Fujita.
Variants
Only one example was ever built.
Where you'll see it
On 13 to 15 May 1938 it flew 11,651.011 km around a closed circuit at Kisarazu, a world distance record that stood until August 1939. It last flew in 1939 and a replica is displayed at the Misawa Aviation and Science Museum.
Related aircraft
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