Kawanishi E15K "Norm"
 
Topics:
E15K- wing float question
 
E15K- wing float question
 
Posted By: Mark Mills <mailto:mark@silvercourt.fsnet.co.uk?subject=E15K- wing float question>
Date: Sunday, 9 September 2001, at 2:20 p.m.
 
Hiya, looking at the model of the E15K in the gallery, it looked like the wing floats retract into the wings somehow. Does anyone have a picture of this? I recently picked up the old Aoshima kit (don't laugh!) and can see that I have a lot of work to do! Any info on the wing floats would be a big help.
Thanks and best regards,
Mark.
 
Re: E15K- wing float question
 
Posted By: Bill Sanborn <mailto:bsanborn@psemc.com?subject=Re: E15K- wing float question>
Date: Monday, 10 September 2001, at 10:10 a.m.
 
In Response To: E15K- wing float question (Mark Mills)
 
Check out the Aviation Usk kit, it is much better. It is limited run however and maybe hard to get. Since it is limited run, it is better, but not up to the standards of the major kit manufacturers.
The the panel likes struts of the retractable floats actually fit into recesses in the wings so as to be flush when retracted. These recesses are hinted at in some of the existing photos, but I have never seen a clear photo of the recesses. (nit picking question I have is since all the profiles of markings have the Hinomaru partially covering the strut when retracted, is Hinomaru was painted in the recess to show when the strut is open) FWIW, I also have never seen a photo of the fixed strut plane or the plane with operational unit markings, although I do believe the variant existed.
FWIW,
Bill
 
Re: E15K- wing float question
 
Posted By: David Dickson <mailto:ddickson@firstam.com?subject=Re: E15K- wing float question>
Date: Monday, 10 September 2001, at 9:03 a.m.
 
In Response To:  (Mark Mills)
 
An aside-the E15K was one of the most rarified designs of the war. They were primarily(if not solely)for operation off CL OYODO(6 to be stowed in a large hangar)and her unnamed sister(NIOYODO was probably a mistranslation of #2 OYODO) which was to operate as a submarine squadron flagship. Thus it would appear a production of a very small number of aircraft would have staisfied needs. She was equipped with an extra long catapult(45meters as I recall) and the planes were to be used for high speed recon. As a result of the problems with the E15K program the catapult was removed and a conventional size equipment fitted. The hangar was converted to communications/operations facilities for OYODO's subsequent role as Combined Fleet Flagship.
 
Re: E15K- wing float question
 
Posted By: Steve Horn <mailto:shorn3@bellsouth.net?subject=Re: E15K- wing float question>
Date: Monday, 10 September 2001, at 8:30 a.m.
 
In Response To:  (Mark Mills)
 
Mark,
Here's a follow-up on the E15K from "Warplanes of the Second World War, Floatplanes, Vol. Six":
"First prototype...was heavily damaged...during a landing, malfunctioning flaps resulted in the stabilizing floats being torn off. The aircraft was then completely dismantled, a new engine installed and a (small) ventral fin added beneath the rear fuselage . ... A series of accidents were experienced with the stabilizing floats during subsequent trials, the inflation and deflation system proving extremely unreliable, and on occasions the floats retracted inadvertantly during a landing. The float shape was therefore eliminated, but the retraction system was also troublesome and finally was also eliminated, the stabilizing floats being fixed and attached to the wings by slim cantilever struts."
The idea behind the jettisonable main float that I mentioned in my first message was that the airplane was called a "high speed reconnaissance float plane" but its top speed turned out to be very disappointing---only 292.8 mph, so to escape American fighters, the dropping of the float added a few knots. Only 15 were put into service, six were sent to Palau and all six were quickly shot down.
Send me your mailing address and I'll send a copy of very small picture of the production version, plus a small 3-view.
 
Re: E15K- wing float question
 
Posted By: Elephtheriou George <mailto:arawasi_g@hotmail.com?subject=Re: E15K- wing float question>
Date: Monday, 10 September 2001, at 1:34 p.m.
 
In Response To: Re: E15K- wing float question (Mike Goodwin)
 
Konnichi wa minasama (hi all),
the threads you are talking about are in the Old Message Boards section, Floatplanes.
Thank you Mike for revealing the general outline of the second part of the translation we did on the subject. It was supposed to be a surprise but I quess it's alright now.
Yes. They were NOT "quickly shot down", saw combat, their crews liked them and nobody was killed while flying the plane.
Please be patient about part two. You will see it someday.
Domo,
George
 
Re: E15K- wing float question
 
Posted By: Steve Horn <mailto:shorn3@bellsouth.net?subject=Re: E15K- wing float question>
Date: Sunday, 9 September 2001, at 9:53 p.m.
 
In Response To: E15K- wing float question (Mark Mills)
 
Mark,
The E15's stabilizing floats "were fitted with metal planing bottoms and rubberized fabric tops which were inflated when the floats were extended." The main central float was pylon mounted and "attached to the fuselage by two pins and, in an emergency, the forward pin could be removed thus releasing the entire float and increasing maximum speed by some 50 knots (58MPH)....if the central float had been jettisoned, the stabilizing floats were to be kept retracted to act as floatation bouys." These quotes from Francillon's "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War."
 
HTH. Steve Horn