Itoh Emi 16
| Company type | Aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Products | Civil biplane aircraft |
The Itoh Emi 16 "Fuji-go" (commonly known as Fuji) was introduced in 1920 as an economical and straightforward civil biplane designed for general use. It attracted notice through its participation in exhibition flights and by competing in speed and altitude contests against fighter planes with more powerful engines.
Design and development
Conceived mainly as an affordable aircraft for civilian purposes, the Fuji-go utilized a surplus Le Rhône rotary engine from wartime stocks and incorporated design simplifications such as straight, non-staggered wings to minimize costs.
This two-bay biplane featured a wooden framework covered with fabric. Its wings, rectangular in planform with rounded tips, were supported by parallel interplane struts. The fuselage, rectangular in cross-section, accommodated two open cockpits: one positioned beneath the upper wing for a passenger or extra fuel storage to extend flight duration, and the pilot’s cockpit located just behind the upper wing’s trailing edge, which included a cut-out section to enhance upward visibility.
The tail assembly was conventional, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted atop the fuselage. The elevators were designed to provide clearance for rudder movement. The fin was small, paired with a balanced rudder featuring multiple angled surfaces.
The fixed landing gear consisted of wheels mounted on an axle held by V-shaped struts attached to the lower longerons of the fuselage, complemented by an elongated tailskid situated below the leading edge of the fin.
Its first flight took place on 22 July 1920.
Operational history
Soon after its introduction, the Fuji-go participated in competitions, securing first place in an altitude contest and finishing second in a speed race from Funabashi to Chiba, piloted by Yutichi Goto. It also conducted demonstration flights over Kyoto and Osaka, followed by entry into the Imperial Flying Association's Second Airmail Flying Contest—a race spanning from Osaka to Kurume. To enhance speed when competing against aircraft with more powerful engines, modifications were made by shortening the lower wings beyond the first bay, reducing the wingspan to , which resulted in a 21% increase in maximum velocity. Piloted by Goto, the Fuji-go achieved second place in this event and was awarded a prize of 8,000 yen, finishing only behind a SPAD XIII fighter equipped with a engine.
Following additional promotional flights, the aircraft returned to competition during May 1921 at the Second Prize-winning Flight Competition, where pilot Komayoshi Yasuoka earned third place flying the Fuji-go.
Variants
Information sourced from Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941 pp. 116–7
- Emi 18
- equipped with a Clerget nine-cylinder rotary engine; wingspan , increased wing area, shorter fuselage length. One unit produced in 1921.
- Emi 19
- powered by a Turrin nine-cylinder rotary engine; wingspan , reduced length. One example built in 1921.
- Emi 20
- fitted with an Le Rhône rotary engine; wingspan , shorter length overall. A single aircraft constructed in 1921.