First flying in October 1917, the Sopwith Rhino was a two-seat triplane bomber. Designed as a private venture by Sopwith, it featured an internal bomb load of up to 205kg. Armament consisted of a synchronised Vickers machine gun firing through the propeller disc and a Lewis machine gun in the rear cockpit.
Testing found that the aircraft was nose heavy and the Galloway Adriatic six-cylinder, water-cooled inline engine was subject to overheating. Testing was undertaken at Martlesham Heath in February and March 1918, but it had a poor ceiling and low speed, and was rejected as a service type. Only two prototypes were built.
Junkers Ju 86 Z Werknummer 086 0952 was built in1937 in Dessau, Germany and registered as D-AGEY. During March 1937, over a three-week period, it was piloted by Hans Kommoll on a ferry flight from Germany to Australia. Just before landing, an engine failed resulting in it swinging off the runway. It took about five weeks before a replacement engine arrived from Germany by sea.
On May 14, 1937 it was registered in Australia as VH-UYA and named “Lawrence Hargrave” for the British-born Australian engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer. This aircraft was acquired by Sydney wool broker, H. Beinssen in exchange for £23,000 worth of Australian wool being shipped to Germany.
Placed on charter to Airlines of Australia Ltd. it was hoped that the diesel engines would prove more economical to operate than other aircraft. However, engine reliability problems resulted in the operator cancelling the lease. The aircraft was shipped back Germany in August where it became D-AREY.
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence HargreavesJunkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves still with German markingsJunkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves still with German markingsJunkers Ju 86Z-2 Lawrence Hargrave in Australia 1937Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence HargreavesJunkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves with Australian registrationJunkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence HargreavesJunkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves undergoing engine maintenance
Developed from the Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden, the N1K2-J addressed the major defects present in its predecessor, primarily the mid-mounted wing and long landing gear. The wing was lowered, thereby shortening the landing gear, while the fuselage was lengthened and the tail unit redesigned. The design changes resulted in a lightening of the fighter by 250 kg.
Despite its continued reliability issues, the Homare engine was retained as there was no alternative available. Armament was maintained at four 20mm cannon all located in the wings. First flying on 1 January 1944, it was named Shiden-Kai (kai meaning modified), while the Allies maintained the code-name George.
A total of 406 Kawanishi K1N2-J Shiden-Kai fighters were built.
Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai343 Kōkūtai Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai in flight, LT Kanno’s aircraft is to the left.Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-KaiKawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai
Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai in US Markings
Captured Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-KaiCaptured Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai in US MarkingsCaptured Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai in US MarkingsCaptured Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai in US MarkingsCaptured Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-KaiCaptured Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai
