Kawanishi K-3
Kawanishi Aircraft · Japan · first flew 1921 · transport aircraft
The Kawanishi K-3 was a Japanese two-seat fast mail and light passenger biplane first flown around October 1921, developed from the K-1 with a more powerful Maybach Mb.IVa engine. Its passenger accommodation was placed forward of the pilot's cockpit in an unusual arrangement.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.86 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Passenger cockpit forward of the pilot's open rear cockpit — unusual observer-forward layout
- First Japanese aircraft to use the Maybach Mb.IVa engine
- Development of K-1 with cleaner aerodynamics and more power
The forward-positioned passenger cockpit under the upper wing, ahead of the pilot, is the most distinctive feature of the K-3 and sets it apart from the K-1 and from most contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Kawanishi K-3 has a length of 8.86 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.03 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The K-3 represented a significant improvement over the K-1, introducing the 260–305 hp German Maybach engine to Japanese civil aviation. The forward passenger position, under the upper wing, gave occupants good visibility. The aircraft served Japan's early civil air services.
Variants
Development of the K-1; no further production variants documented.
Where you'll see it
Operated on early Japanese civil air mail and passenger routes in the early 1920s.
Related aircraft
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