Aichi AB-6
title: "Aichi AB-6" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1930s-japanese-military-reconnaissance-aircraft", "floatplanes", "aichi-aircraft", "biplanes", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1933"] topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aichi_AB-6" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | AB-6 |
| aircraft_type | Reconnaissance floatplane |
| national_origin | Japan |
| manufacturer | Aichi |
| designer | Tetsuo Miki |
| number_built | 1 |
| first_flight | 1933 |
| developed_from | Heinkel He 62 |
| :: |
| name = AB-6 | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Reconnaissance floatplane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Japan | manufacturer = Aichi | design_group = | designer = Tetsuo Miki | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1933 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Heinkel He 62 | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Aichi AB-6, or Aichi Experimental 7-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane, was a prototype Japanese reconnaissance floatplane. It was a single-engined, three-seat biplane intended for the Imperial Japanese Navy, but only one was built, the rival aircraft from Kawanishi, the E7K being preferred.
Design and development
In 1932, the Imperial Japanese Navy raised a specification for a long-range floatplane reconnaissance aircraft to replace its Yokosuka E1Y and E5Y operating from its seaplane tenders and battleships, requesting prototypes from Aichi and Kawanishi. Aichi's entry, the Aichi AB-6 or Aichi Experimental 7-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane, designed by Tetsuo Miki, was based on the Heinkel He 62, one example of which had been imported by Aichi the previous year for evaluation against a similar requirement. The AB-6 was a biplane with folding wings for storage aboard ship, of all-metal construction with fabric covering, and powered by a single Hiro Type 91 W12 engine. Its crew of three, pilot, observer and radio operator/gunner were accommodated in an enclosed cockpit.
Operational history
The prototype was completed in February 1933 and made its maiden flight from Nagoya harbor. While it had good handling in the air, its speed, take-off, and landing performance was disappointing, and the aircraft was modified to try to improve matters. It was fitted with revised wings, of different aerofoil section and with full-span leading edge slats. The original Hamilton-Standard two-bladed metal variable-pitch propeller was first replaced by a two-bladed wooden propeller and then a four-bladed wooden unit. Despite these changes, Kawanishi's design remained superior, and in 1934, was ordered into production as the Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane, or Kawanishi E7K.
Specifications (final configuration)
|ref=Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941 |prime units?=met General characteristics
|genhide= |crew=3 |capacity= |length m=10.44 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=12.98 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m=4.80 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=40.61 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=1920 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=3020 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg=3300 |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Hiro Type 91 |eng1 type=water-cooled W12 engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=630 |eng1 note= |power original= |thrust original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= Performance
|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=140 |max speed kts= |max speed note=at sea level |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts=80 |cruise speed note=at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |stall speed kmh=81 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |endurance=11.9 h |ceiling m=4850 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |time to altitude=3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 14 min 54 s |more performance= Armament
|guns= 1× fixed, forward firing 7.7 mm machine gun, 1 flexibly mounted in rear cockpit and 1× under fuselage |bombs= |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints= |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other= |other armament= |avionics=
Notes
- In the Japanese Navy designation system, specifications were given a Shi number based on the year of the Emperor's reign it was issued. In this case 7-Shi stood for 1932, the 7th year of the Shōwa era.
References
- Francillon, R.J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London:Putnam, 1970. .
- Mikesh, Robert and Shorzoe Abe. Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. London:Putnam, 1990. .
References
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 72–73.
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 73.
- Francillon 1970, pp. 297–298.
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 73–74.
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 2, 286.
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