The little-known sistership of Lindbergh’s Ryan NYP Spirit of St Louis, built for the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. It would act as a pattern for the Kawanishi K-12 transpacific monoplane.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis - СШАUSA - 1927

Japan suspended its transpacific project in July 1928, following Charles Kingsford Smith’s pioneering crossing. Beneath “Smithy’s” low-flying Fokker F.VIIB-3m Southern Cross, British pilot Fred A. Giles is swinging the compass of his Hess Bluebird Wanda at Mills Field, San Francisco. Brisbane-based Giles was preparing to fly solo across the Pacific. Fortunately his wild scheme never materialised.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fokker F.VII / C-2 / F.XIV - НидерландыNetherlands - 1924Hess Bluebird - СШАUSA - 1926

In 1932 this Junkers-W 33, No 3 Hochi Nichi-Bei, commanded by Eiichiro Baba, vanished over the Pacific after radio contact was lost six hours after take-off.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Junkers W 33 / W 34 / Ju.46 - ГерманияGermany - 1926

Tail up, the A-26 is about to lift off from Hsinking (now Changchun) to exceed the distance of a nonstop flight from Tokyo to New York. Had it used its fuel reserves, the A-26 could have exceeded the Great Circle distance by more than 4,000 miles.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Tachikawa Ki.77 - ЯпонияJapan - 1942

The crew of the record-breaking A-26 salute their mission commander before take-off. On the left are the team's groundcrew.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Tachikawa Ki.77 - ЯпонияJapan - 1942

At wars end the A-26 was among a number of Japanese aircraft chosen for evaluation by the USAAF. Here, with its markings removed, it has been painted black before being shipped to the USA.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Tachikawa Ki.77 - ЯпонияJapan - 1942

The two-seat cockpit of the Ki-77, which offered an excellent field of vision. The type’s very-high-aspect-ratio wings were of laminar-flow section with 6° dihedral, and contained fuel tanks taking up some 70 per cent of their internal volume. Although the sophisticated cockpit of the A-26 was fully pressurised, leaks forced the crew to wear oxygen masks. Between the pilot's control wheels may be seen the autopilot; this system also failed during the record flight.
The aircraft’s flight-handling characteristics were reportedly excellent, but only two were ultimately built.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Tachikawa Ki.77 - ЯпонияJapan - 1942

A most unlikely transpacific candidate - an 80 h.p. Genet-engined Junkers-A 50 Junior floatplane trainer similar to that flown by Seiji Yoshihara.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Junkers A 50 Junior - ГерманияGermany - 1929

The Kawanishi K-12 long-range monoplane was inspired by Lindbergh’s Ryan NYP, but had a conventional cabin under the leading edge of the wing. Powered by a 500 h.p. Kawasaki-built BMW engine, the K-12 had an empty weight of 4,232lb and weighed 12,000lb fully loaded.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Kawanishi K-12 Sakura - ЯпонияJapan - 1928

In May 1928 Kawanishi completed the first of its two K-12 transpacific monoplanes. The pride shown by these company employees turned to despair when designer Eiji Sekiguchi’s mammoth monoplane proved an embarrassing white elephant.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Kawanishi K-12 Sakura - ЯпонияJapan - 1928

Groundcrew work on one of the two K-12s built, outside its hangar at the Kawanishi factory. When Japan’s Aviation Bureau determined that the K-12 was incapable of making the Pacific crossing, one was hung above the factory floor, carrying the message, “How Not to Design or Build a Special-Purpose Aircraft".

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Kawanishi K-12 Sakura - ЯпонияJapan - 1928