Aichi E11A1 Type 98 ("Laura")

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model box artwork

model box artwork

The Aichi E11A ("Kyujuhachi Yatei") was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat used during the first year of World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied codename for the type was "Laura"; the Japanese Navy designation was "Type 98 Reconnaissance Seaplane". The Type 98 was quite similar to the earlier E10A Type 96, whose Allied name was "Hank". "Lauras" were rare - only 17 were built, and its intended use appears to be equally rare - launched from cruisers or battleships in order to spot the shellfire of opposing ships at night. The Type 98s were soon diverted from patrol to communications and transport duties. Its appearance remained a mystery throughout the war, and it wasn't until some years after that war that it was first illustrated in the Japanese press.    (info from Wikipedia and elsewhere)

Aichi E11A1 Type 98

Type:           Night Reconnaissance
Service: 	Japanese Navy Air Force (JNAF)
Crew:           three
Armament:       one flexible 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun
Reference: 	Francillon: 489

Specifications:
        Length:         35' 1.75" (10.71 m)
        Height:         18' 0.5" (4.52 m)
        Wingspan:       47' 6.5" (14.49 m)
        Wing area:      499 sq. ft (46.40 sq. m)
        Empty Weight:   4248 lbs (1927 kg)
        Max Weight:     7033 lbs (3297 kg)

Propulsion:
        No. of Engines: 1
        Powerplant:     Hiro Type 91 Model 22 liquid-cooled engine
        Horsepower:     620 hp 

Performance:
        Range:          1050 nautical miles (1209 st miles)
        Cruise Speed:   n/a 
        Max Speed:      135 mph (117 kt) at 7875 ft (2400 m)
        Ceiling:        14520 ft (4425 m)

Production:		17 E11s built

Additional information on this aircraft can be found at Wikipedia HERE.

For a very nice scale color drawing of this aircraft, see here.

(go to Aichi page)

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