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Shinmaywa US-1A Kai

Type
SAR-Amphibian (Amphibium für Rettungseinsäzte)

Country (Land)
Japan

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
ShinMaywa, Aircraft Division
3-2-43 Shitte, Turumi-ku
Yokohama-si, 230-0003
Japan

Web: www.shinmaywa.co.jp

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 3 on flight deck plus three in cabin
Passengers: cabin can accommodate up to 20 survivors or 12 stretchers. A passenger version could seat 32 in four-abreast configuration at 31 inch seat pitch.

Power plant (Antrieb): 4 x Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprops with FADEC
Power (Leistung): 4 x 3355 kW (4500 shp)
Propeller: Dowty R414, six blade

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 33.46 m
Height (Höhe): 9,95 m
Span (Spannweite): 33,15 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 135,82 sq m

Weights (Massen)
Operating weight empty (Einsatz-Leermasse): 25630 kg
Water capacity for firefighting: 15 tons
Max. take-off weight (max. Startmasse): 43000 kg from water, 45 000 kg from land

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 555 km/h, 510 km/h for the US-1A
Cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 500 km/h
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 7195 m
Cruise altitude (Reiseflughöhe): over 6095 m (20000 ft)
Take-off distance on water (Startstrecke im Wasser): 460 m. take-off is possible with 3 m wave height.
Range (Reichweite): around 4620 km

Customers (Kunden)
19 US-1/1A have been ordered by the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. The aircraft are operated by No. 71 squadron at Iwakuni and Atsugi. By 2003, some ten were still in service.
In mid-2004, ShinMaywa said that “demand for about 200 aircraft in the decade ahead is forecasted for purposes of rescue, fire fighting, passenger transport, freight transport and ocean observation.”

Cost (Preis)
In 1996 it was said that development will cost 50 billion Yen (469 million US-Dollars). In 2004 reports stated these costs as 630 million US-Dollars (66 billion Yen).

Competition (Konkurrenz)
none

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The US-1A Kai is an improved version of the US-1 amphibian. Main differences to the US-1A are:

new Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprops, delivering 800 kW more power each than the T64-10Js fitted today
pressurized upper hull for cruise altitudes of 20000 ft
glass cockpit
modified wing of decreased weight with integral fuel tanks
new CTS800-4K engine used for the flap blowing system
fly-by-wire flight controls instead of a mechanical system
new, lighter wing

For use in the SAR role, the US-1 is fitted with a Thales Ocean Master radar in the nose.
ShinMaywa also wants to offer the US-1A Kai as a firefighting aircraft, fitting two water tanks with a capacity of 16 tons, that is 9 tons more than the Bombardier 415. In early 2005, it was claimed that life-cycle costs would be identical to the 415.
ShinMaywa is working with Mitsubishi (wing), Kawasaki (fuselage) and Sumitomo (landing gear).

History (Geschichte)
Work on the US-1A Kai upgrade started in 1996, as there were not enough funds to develop a completely new amphibian (US-X).
Parts manufacture for the US-1A Kai began in April 2000.
Major assembly of the US-1A Kai was started in July 2001.
The official roll-out of the prototype (9901) at the Konan factory near Kobe was on 22 April 2003. In addition, two airframes have been produced for static and fatigue testing.
After a few months delay due to a clogged boundary layer control engine duct, the US-1A Kai made its 15-minute maiden flight on 18 December 2003 off Kobe. A compressed company flight test programme followed, leading to handover to the Japan Defence Agency on 24 March 2004. The prototype then entered a two-year test programme with the 51 st Air Wing at Iwakuni. Service entry with the 71 st Air Wing was said to be in 2007. Up to 14 aircraft could be required.
At the Farnborough Air Show in July 2004, ShinMaywa announced that is aiming for a conversion of the US-1A Kai into a firefighting seaplane and try to win export sales.
The second prototype flew on 30 June 2004 and was scheduled to join the TRDI JDA´s Technical Research and Development Institute) test programme in November.
The US-1 first flew on 16 October 1974 and was delivered on 5 March 1975. The US-1 performed its first rescue at sea in 1976, and until March 1999 had made 548 rescues during which 550 people were saved. US-1A production totals 20.

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Last updated 27 September 2005

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