Gasuden Koken

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasuden_Koken

The Gasuden Koken (also known as the Koken-ki (???)) was a Japanese long-range
research aircraft of the 1930s. It was built by the Tokyo Gas and Electric
Industry (also known as Gasuden), to break the world record for longest flight,
setting a closed circuit world record of 11,651 km (7,240 mi) in March 1938.

In 1931, the Aeronautical Research Institute of the Tokyo Imperial University
commenced studies to design an aircraft to break the world closed-circuit
distance record, gaining a grant from the Japanese Diet or parliament to finance
the project. Initial design was completed in August 1934, and the Tokyo Gas and
Electric Company (also known as Gasuden) was selected to build the aircraft,
despite the fact that it had only limited resources, and had previously only
built small numbers of wooden light aircraft. The design produced by the
Aeronautical Research Institute and Gasuden was a single-engined low-wing
cantilever monoplane with retractable undercarriage. It was of all-metal
construction, with fabric-covered outer wings and control surfaces. While it was
originally intended to be powered by a diesel engine, this proved impracticable,
and in the end a modified version of the German BMW VIII gasoline-fuelled
engine, license-built by Kawasaki, was chosen.

Construction was slow, and the aircraft was not completed until March 1937. It
was first flown on 25 May 1937, piloted by Major Yuzo Fujita of the Imperial
Japanese Army.


Role
Long range research aircraft

National origin
Japan

Manufacturer
Gasuden

First flight
25 May 1937

Number built
1

Specifications

General characteristics
Crew: three
Length: 15.06 m (49 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 27.93 m (91 ft 7¾ in)
Height: 3.60 m (11 ft 9¾ in)
Wing area: 87.3 m² (939.7 sq ft)
Empty weight: 4,225 kg (9,314 lb)
Loaded weight: 9,216 kg (20,317 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Kawasaki built BMW VIII water-cooled V12 engine, 715 hp (533 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 250 km/h (135 knots, 155 mph) at sea level
Cruise speed: 211 km/h (114 knots, 131 kmg) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
Range: 11,651.011 km (6,295.29 nmi, 7,239.58 mi)
Service ceiling: 3,410 m (11,200 ft)



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