Itoh Emi 30
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Aircraft (including Itoh Emi 30) |
The Itoh Emi 30 was a compact, single-engine biplane designed for sport flying, constructed in Japan during 1922. Recognized as the tiniest Japanese aircraft of that era, the only model built was mainly utilized for aerobatic training purposes.
Design and development
Launched in 1922, the Emi 30 held the distinction of being Japan’s smallest civil sports plane. After World War I, Itoh integrated design elements from European and American aviation into its aircraft. Unlike the Emi 29, which featured an enclosed cabin inspired by Western luxury cars, the Emi 30 embodied Western enthusiasm for small-sized sports airplanes.
The aircraft featured a wooden structural frame covered with fabric and was configured as a single-bay biplane. Its wings were supported by parallel pairs of streamlined interplane struts. The lower wing extended slightly further than the upper wing and was attached directly to the lower fuselage longerons. The upper wing’s center section was positioned above the fuselage using cabane struts that leaned outward. Both wings incorporated two spars and had thicker airfoil sections compared to typical biplanes from that period, with inset ailerons placed on the upper wing.
Its powerplant consisted of a 40-45 horsepower radial engine built by Itoh, which combined cylinders and pistons from a domestically produced Renault engine with a newly designed crankshaft and crankcase. The propeller was two-bladed and fitted with a rounded spinner. Positioned beneath the upper wing was an open cockpit featuring a streamlined headrest that seamlessly merged into the slender rear fuselage. The tail assembly was conventional, including a tailplane mounted on top of the fuselage and braced from below, along with a large fin carrying a balanced rudder characterized by a rounded yet pointed outline.
The landing gear comprised wheels mounted on a single axle, supported by V-shaped struts connected to the lower fuselage longerons.
Operational history
The Emi 30 made its first public appearance in July 1922, where it earned a silver plaque recognizing its innovative design. Developed under the guidance of Seizo Okhura, it subsequently served as an aerobatics trainer at Itoh Aeroplane Manufacturing Works. In March 1924, it was exhibited atop a Tokyo department store with an asking price of 5,000 yen; however, details about its fate after this display remain unknown. Records indicate that only one unit was ever produced.