Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"

Kawanishi Aircraft Company · Japan · first flew 1936 · transport aircraft

The Kawanishi H6K (Allied reporting name 'Mavis') was a large Japanese Navy four-engine flying boat used for long-range maritime patrol and transport during World War II. Its parasol-wing configuration and four radial engines gave it a distinctive silhouette.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	4 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	25.63 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Large four-engine parasol-wing flying boat
Prominent wing-mounted engine nacelles with radials
Twin-float underwing stabilisers and distinctive hull step

A very large parasol-wing flying boat with four radial engines mounted above the wing on struts, a deep hull with a single main step, and twin underwing floats; the high-set wing and pronounced hull profile are the primary recognition features.

Specifications

The Kawanishi H6K has a length of 25.63 m (84 ft).
It has a wingspan of 40 m (131 ft).
Its maximum speed is 385 km/h (239 mph).
Typical crew: 9.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Entering service in 1938, the H6K conducted extensive patrols over the Pacific and participated in early operations in the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was progressively withdrawn from front-line patrols as Allied fighters exposed its lack of armour and self-sealing tanks.

Variants

Variants ranged from H6K1 through H6K5, with improvements in armament and engine power; the H6K4-L was a dedicated transport version with passenger accommodation.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by the Imperial Japanese Navy; small numbers remained in transport duties until the end of the war.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.