Kawanishi K8K
Kawanishi Aircraft Company · Japan · first flew 1938 · light aircraft
The Kawanishi K8K, formally the Navy Type 0 Primary Seaplane Trainer, was a Japanese floatplane trainer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The first prototype flew on 6 July 1938.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage with wooden wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine biplane on twin floats
- Trainee and instructor in separate open cockpits
- Fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage with wooden wings
A small biplane on twin floats with two tandem open cockpits.
Specifications
- The Kawanishi K8K has a length of 8.8 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1937 the Navy asked Kawanishi, Watanabe and Nippi for a primary floatplane trainer to replace the Yokosuka K4Y, using the same Gasuden Jimpu radial engine. Kawanishi's K8K1 was a single-engine biplane and was chosen over Watanabe's K8W.
Variants
Three prototypes were built, followed by twelve production aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Production stopped after those twelve because the Navy decided to use the more powerful Yokosuka K5Y for primary floatplane training.
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