Aichi AB-3

Aichi AB-3 reconnaissance seaplane, ordered by the Imperial Japanese Navy, for use on the Chinese Navy's new warship ordered from the Harima shipyard in Japan. Powered by a 130hp Gasuden radial engine, the airframe, when dismantled, was to fit into an area 3.20m (10ft 6in) by 3.3m (10ft l0in) wide. Drawing from experience in designing the closely related AB-2, Aichi's aircraft designer Tetsuo Miki completed the prototype in January 1932. Test flights were made by Aichi's test pilots, Kanekichi Yokoyama and Tamizo Amagai, from the port of Nagoya, beginning in February of that year. This became the first aeroplane originally designed by Aichi to show great promise from the very first flight, with all performance figures exceeding the specified requirements. The Chinese accepted this one prototype, but the aeroplane was never put into production. Instead, rhe Chinese Naval Arsenal built the Ning Hai shipboard single-seat reconnaissance seaplane designed by Lieut T.T. Mar of the Chinese Navy

10ft Accepted Aichi Airframe Closely Designing Dismantled Exceeding Experience Flights Harima Instead Lieut Miki Nagoya Ning Ordered Promise Radial Reconnaissance Related Requirements Seaplane Shipboard Single-seat Specified Tetsuo

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