Nakajima E4N: Difference between revisions

The Nakajima E4n was a shipboard reconnaissance aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1930s.

It was a two-seat, single-engine, equal-span biplane seaplane.

Development

The first prototype of the Type 90-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane, or E4N1, flew in 1930. This was fitted with twin floats and had no cowling for the engine. This prototype was rejected.

The type was completely redesigned as the Type 90-2-2 or E4N2, with a single main-float and twin, wing-mounted outriggers and introduced a cowled engine. This entered production for the navy in 1931.

A landplane version of the Type 90-2-2 was developed as the E4N2-C with a tailwheel undercarriage

Operational history

The E4N2 was employed as a shipboard spotter aircraft launched by catapult.

In 1933, nine E4N2-C airframes were converted to P1 mailplanes. Single-seat landplanes with an enclosed cockpit, these were employed on night-mail services between the Japanese Home Islands.

Variants

• E4N1 (Type 90-2) - twin-float seaplane. Prototype only
• E4n2 (Type 90-2-2) - single-float seaplane. 85 built.
• E4N2-C - fixed-undercarriage landplane. 67 built.
• P-1 - single-seat mailplane. 9 converted from E4N2-C airframes.

Specifications (Type 90-2-2)

Data from Virtual Aircraft Museum

General characteristics

• Crew: 2

Performance

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