Mitsubishi 1MF

Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1921 · fighter

The Mitsubishi 1MF was an early Japanese Imperial Navy carrier fighter biplane of the early 1920s, designed with British technical assistance. It represented Japan's first steps toward indigenous carrier aviation.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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

Spot it by:

Early Japanese Navy carrier fighter biplane
Single-engine sesquiplane layout
1920s fabric-covered wooden construction

A compact sesquiplane biplane with a rounded nose spinner, fabric-covered wooden structure, and a relatively high-mounted lower wing. Distinguished from contemporaries by its Japanese Navy markings and relatively clean cowling.

Specifications

The Mitsubishi 1MF has a length of 6.9 m (23 ft).
It has a wingspan of 8.5 m (28 ft).
Its maximum speed is 213 km/h (132 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

Developed under the guidance of British engineer Herbert Smith, formerly of Sopwith, the 1MF entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy around 1923. It was one of the first aircraft designed specifically for Japanese carrier operations and served aboard the carrier Hōshō. The type was relatively advanced for its era but was superseded within a few years.

Variants

Several development sub-variants were produced, with incremental refinements to the airframe and engine installation; the 1MF10 represented the final production model.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier aviation arm through the mid-1920s, operating from Hōshō, the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be completed.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.