MVSA-32J Umidori

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MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull)
MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull).
Type Multimission maritime VTOL aircraft
Manufacturer unknown
Primary user Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull in English) is a fictional aircraft created for the anime series Zipang. In the story, it is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force VTOL tilt-wing armed reconnaissance aircraft deployed aboard the destroyer "Mirai."


[edit] Design Characteristics

The MVSA-32J has two large, five-bladed propellers mounted on nacelles in its wings. The wings both tilt, for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and fold, for storage within the “Mirai’s” hangar. It appears that its engines are not in the wing nacelles, which are too small and do not have any air intakes. Air intakes and engine exhausts in the lower part of the fuselage indicate that the engines are located there, presumably connected to the propellers by some complicated mechanical linkage. The design of the Umidori was obviously strongly influenced by the V-22 Osprey.

  • Topspeed: 450 knots
  • Armament: one 3-barreled 20mm "Gatling-style" cannon
  • Crew: 2, a pilot and a weapon systems operator (WSO)


[edit] Trivia

In the series, the “Mirai’s” crew refer to the aircraft as the “Seagull” but the characters from 1942 call it the “Umidori.”

The Umidori with wings in forward flight mode.
The Umidori with wings in forward flight mode.