Aichi S1A

S1A Denko
Role	Night fighter
Manufacturer	Aichi Kokuki KK
Status	Cancelled
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

The Aichi S1A Denko (Bolt of Light) was a Japanese night fighter, intended to replace the Nakajima J1N1-S Gekkou (Allied code name Irving). It was to be, like the Gekkou, equipped with radar to counter the B-29 air raids over the Japan. Development time increased while trying to overcome design shortcomings, such as the insufficient power of the Navy's requested Nakajima Homare engines, resulting in no aircraft being completed before the war ended.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications(S1A1 Denko) 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

Design and development

Two prototypes were constructed in 1945, but the project was cancelled after the incomplete prototypes were destroyed during two separate bomb attacks when they are about 70% (1st prototype) and 90% (2nd prototype) complete.^[1].

Specifications(S1A1 Denko)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the pacific War^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 49 ft 6.5 in (15.100 m)
• Wingspan: 57 ft 5 in (17.50 m)
• Height: 15 ft 1.5 in (4.610 m)
• Wing area: 505.902 sq ft (46.9998 m²)
• Empty weight: 16,138 lb (7,320 kg)
• Gross weight: 22,443 lb (10,180 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 25,375 lb (11,510 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Nakajima NK9K-S , 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) each at take-off
• Propellers: 4-bladed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 360 mph (580 km/h; 310 kn)
• Cruise speed: 273 mph (237 kn; 439 km/h)
• Range: 1,054 mi (916 nmi; 1,696 km)
• Ferry range: 1,553 mi (1,350 nmi; 2,499 km)
• Service ceiling: 39,370 ft (12,000 m)
• Wing loading: 44.4 lb/sq ft (217 kg/m²)

Armament

• Guns:
  
• 2× fuselage-mounted forward-firing 30mm Type 5 cannons
• 2× fuselage-mounted forward-firing 20mm Type 99 model 1 cannons
• 2× dorsal turret-mounted 20mm Type 99 model 2 cannons

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Nakajima J1N
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• "Aichi S1A Denko" (in en). Japanese Aircraft of World War II. http://www.daveswarbirds.com. http://www.daveswarbirds.com/Nippon/aircraft/Denko.htm. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
• Joao Paulo Julião Matsuura (1997). "Aichi S1A Denko (Bolt of Light)" (in en). WWII Imperial Japanese Naval Aviation Page. http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/ijnaf.htm. http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/s1a.htm. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 

Aircraft produced by Aichi Kokuki Manufacturer designations AB-1 · AB-2 · AB-3 · AB-4 · AB-5 · AB-6 · AB-7 · AB-8 · AB-9 · AB-10 · AB-11 · AB-12 · AB-13 · AB-14 AM-7 · AM-10 · AM-15 · AM-16 · AM-17 · AM-19 · AM-21 · AM-22 · AM-23 · AM-24 Imperial Japanese Navy short designations B7A C4A D1A · D3A E3A · E8A · E10A · E11A · E13A · E16A F1A H9A M6A S1A World War II Allied reporting names Grace · Hank · Jake · Laura · Paul · Susie · Val

Japanese Navy Land Based Fighter designations J1N  • J2M  • J3K  • J4M  • J5N  • J6K  • J7W  • J8M  • J9Y JXFw

Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) Aircraft engines (manufacturers) Airlines (defunct) Airports Civil authorities Museums Registration prefixes Rotorcraft (manufacturers) Timeline Military Air forces Weapons Experimental Missiles Unmanned Accidents/incidents Commercial airliners (by location) Fatalities (by death toll) General aviation Military Records Airspeed Altitude Distance Endurance Firsts Most-produced aircraft