Itoh Emi 1
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1915 |
| Founder | Orojiro Itoh |
| Headquarters | Osaka , Japan |
The Itoh Emi 1 represents Japan's second civil aircraft to achieve success and was the inaugural design created by Orojiro Itoh.
Design and development
Orojiro Itoh's passion for aviation began during his teenage years, where he trained under the pioneering aviator Sanji Narahara and later contributed to Shigesaburo Torigai's Torigai ''Hyabusa-go''. Following several crashes of the Hyabusa-go, Itoh undertook repairs and redesign efforts, simultaneously teaching himself how to pilot aircraft. By early 1915, he had established the Itoh Aeroplane Research Studio along with a flying school, completing his first original model, the Emi 1, by autumn of that year. The aircraft’s name paid tribute to his origins in the Osaka district.
The Emi 1 was a single example of a three-bay biplane constructed with a wooden frame covered in fabric. Its wings were of equal span and linked by parallel interplane struts; the upper wing was positioned significantly above the fuselage, while the lower wing was mounted on the lower longerons. It was powered by a French Grégoire Gyp four-cylinder water-cooled inline engine, which had been sourced from the Hyabusa-go. The cockpit was open to the elements. Designed to withstand rough landing surfaces, its undercarriage featured two wheels per leg to enhance durability.
The Emi 1 completed its first flight on 11 November 1915.
Operational history
Shortly after its initial flight, on 8 January 1916, Itoh piloted the Emi 1 from Inage Bay to Tokyo in a flight lasting 55 minutes, marking the first successful flight into Tokyo. Following this achievement, he flew the aircraft to 58 different locations across Japan as part of an effort to promote aviation and cultivate public interest in flying throughout the country. The Emi 1 followed the Narahara 4 ''Ohtori-go'' as the second Japanese aircraft to achieve operational success.
Later in its service life at Inage Bay, the Emi 1 was fitted with a Hino Type engine and continued to be utilized within Itoh’s flying school.