ebooks Japanese Secret Projects 1: Experimental Aircraft of the IJA IJN 1939-1945 by Edwin Dyer in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great Reference SourceBy Bomb Man58Author Edwin dyer has done a sterling job of researching and assembling information on the various experimental aircraft of both the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval airforces during WW2.This first volume examines in detail the various experimental projects prepared for both the IJA and IJN by the various Japanese aircraft manufacturers: Aichi; Kawanishi; Kawasaki; Kokusaii; Nakajima and Tachikawa; in some instances these designs just made it to the drawing board; or wooden mock-up stage; before being cancelled. In other cases; prototypes were assembled ; only to be damaged during bombing raids and then stalled through lack of scarce resources. In a small number of cases; a prototype actually took to the air and flew on brief test flights just prior to the end of the war.The advanced skills and knowledge of the Japanese aviation designers and engineers was impressive-certainly on par with those of the German and Allied counterparts and the author describes in detail how these projects evolved. Many of these propellor driven aircraft were expected to attain top speeds of nearly 500 mph and operate in excess of 30;000 feet. Advanced systems intended to be incorporated in their deign included steam condensers mounted in the wing tips to recycle cooling water to engines to obviate the need for drag-producing ventilation ports. Pressurised cockpits and flush riveting were other features. Many of these designs with propellors were the first step in eventually substituting propellors with jet power.I found this book fascinating for three main aspects: one was the technical data available for these aircraft described; the second was the narration of the available information of each type and lastly was the superb illustrations throughout the book by renowned aviation artists. To promote the theme of 'what if'; the aircraft are portrayed in the colour schemes of actual Japanese units that flew during the war. The detail in these illustrations is first class. The book is presented in two main sections; one detailing the various IJA aircraft projects and the second the IJN projects. Additionally the author has included information on various weapon systems; technical exchange of information with Germany and a fairly comprehensive bibliography.In summary an very well researched and written book; beautifully illustrated; this book would serve as a very interesting addition to any fan of Japanese WW2 aviation. Well done; Edwin Dyer!6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Good Book On A Neglected SubjectBy WryGuy2"Japanese Secret Projects: Experimental Aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945" by Edwin M. Dyer; is a book about experimental aircraft and weapons systems for the Japanese Army and Navy in World War II. While there are plenty of books on German and American experimental aircraft in World War II; this book is virtually the only book in print dealing with similar Japanese projects.When describing the aircraft; the author tells how the requirement for the aircraft came about; how the development proceeded; the end results for the aircraft; and gives specifications; usually estimated by the manufacturer as many of the aircraft never flew; or never finished their flight testing. There are also illustrations; primarily computer generated or hand drawn/painted; and they are stunning.After the aircraft section of the book is completed; he writes about developmental weapons systems; and concludes with an overview of the technical exchange between Germany and Japan; to include German aircraft delivered to the Japanese that were pertinent to the experimental nature of the planes in the book.While I found the writing to be a bit on the dry side (not unexpected given the nature of the subject); this book fills a niche for the modeler and serious historian about little known developments in Japanese aircraft design during World War II. It also shows the desperate attempts by the Japanese to create aircraft capable of to steming the onslaught of allied aircraft over their territories and the home islands.Please note that this book does not include every developmental aircraft project for the Japanese. As the author notes in his preface; because of a page constraint (cover to cover; the book is only 160 pages); the author weighted the aircraft to be included based on: radical designs over more conventional designs; fresh designs over derivatives of existing aircraft; the more obscure or unknown the design the higher it was considered; and purely research aircraft; and most non-combat aircraft were generally excluded. But even after the above winnowing; there are plenty of aircraft covered in the book.As an aside; some day I'd like to see a truly comprehensive look at Japanese aircraft development before and during World War II; to include aircraft that did achieve operational status; their derivatives; as well as the developmental aircraft (most of which were covered in this book); similar to William Green's classic; "Warplanes of the Third Reich". But until then; this book helps fill in the gap very nicely.Highly recommended.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Japanese Secret Project: superb detailsBy geminif4ucorsairAuthor Ed Dyer has put together the finest work yet on Japanese aircraft projects that were terminated with the end of World War 2. Had the war continued another year or two; some of these projects would have potentially emerged - potentially; because the devastation of the Japanese aircraft industry was so extensive that any concentrated building from dispersed sites would have been most difficult (as Germany learned in '44-45). Yet; the potential for these designs to emergeintrigues several potential readers - wargamers; historians; aeronautical engineers; etc.The work also corrects some historical errors that are contained in Rene Francillon's Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War (1970); specifically in regard to the Nakajima Kitsuka (referred to as Kikka in Francillon's work). A far more accurate and thorough treatment is given the "Kitsuka" twin-engine jet in this new work; including a reconnaissance version.The book is divided into several sections: Imperial Japanese Army; Imperial Japanese Navy; Other Aircraft; Weapon Systems; and Appendices. Within the IJA section are aircraft projects by Kawasaki; Kayaba Katsuodori; Kokusai; Manshu; Mitsubishi; nakajima; Rikugun; and Tachikawa (including Ki-162 so familiar to German Me-162; and other jet projects). The IJN section follows; beginning with coverage ofthe Kawanishi Baika (or in most Western books: Baka; manned kamikaze project); and there follows projects of the Kawanishi; Kugisho; Kyushu (J7W Shiden); Mitsubishi; Mizuno (Shinryu II); and Nakajima firms.The Other Aircraft mostly focus on kamikaze or rammer-type aircraft projects; except for the Nakajima AT27; an inline engine with contra-rotating props project that is similar to Kawasaki Ki-64 project begun in 1940; and; S-31 Kurowashi - a four-engine heavy bomber project concept with a push-pull engine arrangement with twin tail configuration; powered by 24-cylinder engines developing 2;500-hp each; with a projected speed of 690-km/hr. - irrespective of how dream-like the project may have been (as with several other Japanese programs; it intrigues; if only the possible direction Japanese aerospace developments might have attempted to go had either peace been achieved in the mid-40s or the war prolonged.) Included in other projects would be the six-engine Nakajima Fugaku long-range strategic bomber; several Kogiken push-pull engine medium bomber designs; and Mitsubishi's J4M Senden (initially a twin tail boom pusher engine concept- ala Saab 21 - but also envisioned as a pure jet successor project).The book is 157 pages plus three pages of Index; including two pages of final artist rendering of various aircraft types. A bibliography is included; and includes all the familiar Japanese and other military forces books common the their military force; with one exception: Ishizawa (Kazuhiko) "The Technological Verification of the First Japanese Jet Engine Ne20" (Tokyo; Miki Press; 2006). As readers will discover reading the text; the Ne20 was at the heart of Japanese turbine engine developments (as much as was and in the same category as the German Jumo 004).The rewards in this book are many and should be an essential part of any library that focuses on the Pacific War; WW 2 military technology; and those that like the "what if" aspects of that great war. Bottom Line: the Japanese volume is every bit as rewarding as the other "Secret Project" series on German; American; British and various other titles (Flying Wings and Tailless Aircraft).Regular ContributorNAVAL FORCES journal (Germany)