Itoh Emi 9
| Company type | Aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Tomotari Inagaki (designer) |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Two-seat training biplane |
The Itoh Emi 9 was a Japanese two-seat biplane designed for training purposes, constructed in 1918.
Design and development
After a tidal wave devastated Itoh's hangar at Inage Beach in September 1917, the flying school and its operations moved to Tsudanuma Beach (known as Itoh Airfield). This relocation led to a rise in student numbers and created demand for a two-seat trainer aircraft to succeed the earlier single-seat models. The design was developed by Tomotari Inagaki, a frequent collaborator, who produced a straightforward and stable two-seat trainer. It was powered by an 80 hp water-cooled Hall-Scott V-8 engine previously used in the Emi 3, culminating in the creation of the Itoh Emi 9.
Built with a wooden framework covered in fabric, the Emi 9 presented a simple two-bay biplane configuration with parallel interplane struts. Its rectangular wings lacked both dihedral and stagger, which facilitated easier production.
The nose housed the upright V-8 engine, partially exposed at the top, while a rectangular radiator was mounted edgewise behind it on the port side of the fuselage. The instructor and student sat in separate open cockpits within a fuselage similar in design to that of the Emi 5 and its predecessor, the Curtiss Jenny. The tail assembly echoed the Jenny’s style, featuring a triangular fin and rudder equipped with horn balances—the first application of aerodynamic balancing on a Japanese civil aircraft.
The landing gear consisted of a basic single-axle undercarriage with legs connected to the lower fuselage longerons and rearward drag struts extending to the fuselage centerline.
Operational history
Serving as a trainer at the Itoh flying school, the Emi 9 performed its intended function; however, comprehensive documentation regarding its operational record remains scarce.