Yokosuka K5Y
 Yokosuka K5Y. Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
| |
| Make | Yokosuka |
|---|---|
| Model | Yokosuka K5Y |
| Type | Intermediate trainer |
| Country |  Japan
|
| First flight | 1933 |
| Built | 1934-1945 |
| Number built | 5,770 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Engine | Hitachi Amakaze 11, 340 hp |
| Cruise speed | 139 km/h (K5Y2 floatplane)
|
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The Yokosuka K5Y is a Japanese two-seat biplane trainer of the 1930s and World War II, the main trainer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.[1] Its bright orange paint, used on all Japanese military trainers so they could be seen easily, earned it the nickname aka-tombo, "red dragonfly".[1] More K5Ys were built than any other Japanese trainer: 5,770.[1] None are on the U.S. civil register.[2]
History
The K5Y was based on the Navy Type 91 trainer and redesigned by Kawanishi. It first flew in December 1933 and entered service in 1934 with fixed wheels; floatplane versions, the K5Y2 and K5Y3, followed.[1] Demand was so high that at least eight companies built it, and production continued right up to Japan's surrender in 1945, even though newer monoplane trainers were available.[1] As an intermediate trainer it could fly demanding aerobatics.[1] The Allies called it "Willow".[1]
Specifications (K5Y2 floatplane)
| Item | K5Y2 floatplane |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
| Length | 8.78 m |
| Wingspan | 11 m |
| Height | 3.68 m |
| Engine | Hitachi Amakaze 11, 340 hp (nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine) |
| Propeller | wooden fixed-pitch propeller |
| Maximum speed | 200 km/h |
| Cruise speed | 139 km/h |
| Range | 702 km |
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.[1]
Photos
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Yokosuka K5Y. Photo: 「防空大鑑」（1938年、皇国報恩会）, Public domain -
Yokosuka K5Y. Photo: Nationaal Archief, CC0 -
Yokosuka K5Y. Photo: Museum Pusat TNI AU Dirgantara Mandala, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
A replica of the Yokosuka K5Y trainer at the Kawaguchiko Motor Museum, Yamanashi prefecture, Japan. Photo: Josephus37, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Yokosuka K5Y in the Indonesian Air force Museum, Yoygyakarta. Photo: Davidelit, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Yokosuka K5Y from "Hawai Mare oki kaisen (The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malay)". Photo: 東宝 / Toho, Public domain -
Yokosuka K5Y from "Hawai Mare oki kaisen (The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malay)". Photo: 東宝 (Toho), Public domain
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All photos are from Wikimedia Commons; click a photo for its full credit and license.
Buying a Yokosuka K5Y
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Wikipedia, "Yokosuka K5Y", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration, Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.