Hitachi Amakaze 31 (Ha 23-31), Imperial Japanese Navy, Radial 9 Engine

Object Details

Physical Description: Type: Reciprocating, 9 cylinders, radial, air-cooled; Power rating: 373 kW (500 hp) at 2,300 rpm; Displacement: 17.9 L (1,092 cu in.); Bore and Stroke: 130 mm (5.1 in.) x 150 mm (5.9 in.); Weight: 337 kg (743 lb)
Summary: The Japanese conglomerate Hitachi manufactured aircraft engines from about 1929 until the end of World War II, with a concentration on low-power seven and nine cylinder radials and inverted inline fours. The Hitachi Aircraft Company was formed in 1939 to take over the aircraft and aero-engine branches of the Tokyo Gasu Denki K.K. or Tokyo Gas & Electric Co., Ltd. Many, if not most, Japanese military trainers were powered by Hitachi copies of German designed Hirth air-cooled inline engines.; This radial engine powered the World War II Kyushu Q1W Tokai (Eastern Sea) Navy Patrol Plane (Allied Code Name Lorna), Japan’s first specialized anti-submarine aircraft. The artifact was the right engine from one of those twin-engine aircraft. A total of 785 Amakaze engines were built between 1944 and 1945.

Circa World War II

Materials: Steel, Aluminum, Copper, Rubber, Stainless steel, Textile, Paint, Leather
Dimensions: Diameter 116.2 cm (45.75 in.)

National Air and Space Museum

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9240a04bd-be49-4ac6-8c19-2507aeddcbb1