Mitsubishi 2MR8
Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1931 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Mitsubishi 2MR8, designated Army Type 92 in Japanese service, was a Japanese two-seat short-range reconnaissance parasol monoplane first flown on 28 March 1931. It was the first Japanese military aircraft to be powered entirely by a Japanese-designed and built engine, the Mitsubishi A5 radial.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Parasol monoplane — wing mounted on struts well above the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol monoplane — wing mounted on struts well above the fuselage
- First Japanese military aircraft powered by an all-Japanese engine
- Fixed undercarriage with spatted wheels under a streamlined radial cowling
The high parasol wing mounted on a single central pylon above the fuselage is the primary recognition feature; the combination of spatted fixed undercarriage and an uncowled or lightly cowled radial engine is typical of Japanese Army aircraft of the early 1930s.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi 2MR8 has a length of 8.52 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.75 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two hundred and thirty-four aircraft were built, making the 2MR8 a significant type in early 1930s Japanese Army aviation. The aircraft served in active operations during the Manchurian Incident and the subsequent occupation of Manchuria from 1933 to 1936, when it was replaced by more modern monoplane designs.
Variants
Standard Army reconnaissance configuration; no significant production variants documented.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in the reconnaissance role in Manchuria and China from 1932 to approximately 1936.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.