Tokyo Imperial University LB-2

Last updated
Tokyo Imperial University LB-2
Rolelight civil aircraft
National origin Japan
ManufacturerNihon Koku Kogyo KK
DesignerProf Hidemasa Kimura (student supervisor)
First flight18 December 1939
Number built1

The Tokyo Imperial University LB-2 was a small, single-engined light civil aircraft, designed by students of the Tokyo Imperial University as a two-year project. The sole example first flew in December 1939.

Contents

Design and development

The aeronautics divisions of German universities had a tradition of student design projects, often gliders. [1] In 1936 students at the Tokyo Imperial began a similar, two-year project, though for a small two seat powered aircraft. Their first design, the LB-1 (LB for light blue, the school colour), with side-by side seats was abandoned in favour of the LB-2 which had tandem seats. [2]

It was a conventional high wing aircraft, though with an unusually refined wing plan; the inner half was rectangular but the outer panels were pointedly elliptical. Like the rest of the aircraft the wing structure was wooden and its covering fabric. The LB-2 was powered by a 60 hp (45 kW) air-cooled, inverted, six cylinder Train 6C, a French engine which proved unreliable. [2]

Behind the engine the fuselage was flat sided, with an enclosed cabin under the wing. The tail was conventional with its tailplane on top of the fuselage and a triangular fin mounting a rounded rudder. Its conventional undercarriage was fixed, with rather small mainwheels. [2]

After the students' design work was finished most of the LB-2's construction was undertaken by Nihon Koku Kogyo KK, a Yokohama-based company. They completed it in December 1939 and the first flight was made by Shigejiro Takahashi from Haneda Airport on 18 December 1939. The project was judged a success, though the LB-2's flying time was severely limited by the wayward Train engine. Only one was built, as normal with student project aircraft. [2]

Specifications

Data from Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941 [2]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. Simons, Martin (2006). Sailplanes 1920-1945 (2nd revised ed.). Königswinter: EQIP Werbung & Verlag GmbH. ISBN   3-9806773-4-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam Publishing. p. 257. ISBN   1-55750-563-2.