Aichi S1A Denko

The Aichi S1A1 Denko (Bolt of Light) was intended to be the replacement for the Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko, filling the role of a radar-equipped night fighter to combat the American B-29 raids. Development time increased while trying to overcome the shortcomings (insufficient power) of the Navy's requested engines to be used, resulting in no aircraft being completed before the war ended. Both of the S1A1 prototypes were destroyed in separate Allied bombing raids when they were only 70-90% complete.

Aichi S1A Denko

Type:           advanced nightfighter
Service: 	Japanese Navy Air Force (JNAF)
Crew:           two
Armament:       two fuselage-mounted forward-firing 30mm Type 5 cannons
		two fuselage-mounted forward-firing 20mm Type 99 cannons
		two dorsal turret-mounted 20mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons
		one 551 lb (250 kg) bomb externally

Specifications:
        Length:         49' 6.5" (15.1 m)
        Height:         15' 1.5" (4.61 m)
        Wingspan:       57' 5" (17.5 m)
        Wing area:      505.902 sq. ft (47 sq. m)
        Empty Weight:   16138 lbs (7320 kg)
        Loaded Weight:  22443 lbs (10180 kg)
        Max Weight:     25375 lbs (11510 kg)

Propulsion:
        No. of Engines: 2
        Powerplant:     Nakajima NK9K-S Homare 22 18-cylinder radial
        Horsepower:     2000 hp each 

Performance:
        Normal Range:   1054 st miles (916 naut miles)
        Max Range:      1580 st miles (1373 naut miles)
        Cruise Speed:   276 mph at 13125 ft (240 kt at 4000 m)
        Max Speed:      366 mph  at 26245 ft (318 kt at 8000 m)
        Climb to/in:    29530 ft (9000 m) in 14 min 45 sec
        Ceiling:        39370 ft (12000 m)

Production:		No aircraft completed by the end of the war.

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

Additional color schemes for this aircraft can be found here.

(go to Aichi page)