Hitachi TR.1

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TR.1 and TR.2
Type Airliner
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Hitachi
Maiden flight 8 April 1938
Number built 13

The Hitachi TR.1 was a small airliner developed in Japan in 1938, produced in small numbers as the TR.2. It was a low-wing, cantilever monoplane with retractable tailwheel undercarriage and a fully enclosed cabin. The design strongly resembled the Airspeed Envoy that it was intended to replace in Japanese airline service. Testing of the TR.1 prototype commenced on 8 April 1938 at Haneda Airport, but it suffered a serious accident on 22 June due to a landing in which one of the main undercarriage units failed to extend.

The TR.2 was a revised and strengthened design with a larger wing area, and main undercarriage that only semi-retracted. Twelve examples were built in a small series, but performance was not as good as the TR.1, since the modifications to the design had added 260 kg (570 lb) to the aircraft.

[edit] Specifications (TR.1)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two pilots
  • Capacity: 4 passengers
  • Wingspan: 14.60 m (47 ft 11 in)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Hitachi Kamikaze, 180 kW (240 hp) each

[edit] References

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 2174. 
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 511.