Aichi AB-6

AB-6
Role	Reconnaissance floatplane
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Aichi
Designer	Tetsuo Miki
First flight	1933
Number built	1
Developed from	Heinkel He 62

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.

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.

The prototype was completed in February 1933 and made its maiden flight from Nagoya harbour. While it had good handling in the air, its speed and its take-off and landing performance was disappointing, and the aircraft was modified to try to improve matters, being fitted with revised wings, of different aerofoil section and with full-span leading edge slats, while 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.

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