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The Tokyo Imperial University LB-2 was a small, single-engined light civil aircraft, designed by students of the Tokyo Imperial University as a two-year project. The sole example first flew in December 1939.

Tokyo Imperial University LB-2
Role	light civil aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Nihon Koku Kogyo KK
Designer	Prof Hidemasa Kimura (student supervisor)
First flight	18 December 1939
Number built	1

Design and development

The aeronautics divisions of German universities had a tradition of student design projects, often gliders.[1] In 1936 students at the Tokyo Imperial began a similar, two-year project, though for a small two seat powered aircraft. Their first design, the LB-1 (LB for light blue, the school colour), with side-by side seats was abandoned in favour of the LB-2 which had tandem seats.[2]

It was a conventional high wing aircraft, though with an unusually refined wing plan; the inner half was rectangular but the outer panels were pointedly elliptical. Like the rest of the aircraft the wing structure was wooden and its covering fabric. The LB-2 was powered by a 60 hp (45 kW) air-cooled, inverted, six cylinder Train 6C, a French engine which proved unreliable.[2]

Behind the engine the fuselage was flat sided, with an enclosed cabin under the wing. The tail was conventional with its tailplane on top of the fuselage and a triangular fin mounting a rounded rudder. Its conventional undercarriage was fixed, with rather small mainwheels.[2]

After the students' design work was finished most of the LB-2's construction was undertaken by Nihon Koku Kogyo KK, a Yokohama-based company. They completed it in December 1939 and the first flight was made by Shigejiro Takahashi from Haneda Airport on 18 December 1939. The project was judged a success, though the LB-2's flying time was severely limited by the wayward Train engine. Only one was built, as normal with student project aircraft.[2]

Specifications

Data from Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 7.59 m (24 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.09 m (10 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 16 m² (170 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 264 kg (582 lb)
• Gross weight: 460 kg (1,014 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Train 6C-01 six cylinder, air-cooled, inverted inline, 45 kW (60 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Maximum speed: 176 km/h (109 mph, 95 kn)
• Cruise speed: 144 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)
• Range: 564 km (350 mi, 305 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,700 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.9 m/s (570 ft/min) from sea level

References

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