Air-Britain Aeromilitaria 1988-04

Japan's first fighter of indigenous design, the Koshiki-2 appeared to owe much to the Spad S.XIII and Salmson 2 A1 fighters.
Jack Meaden sends in his identification of the Japspad on page 109 of the last AM. It is a Ko Type 2, also known as the A-94, and one was built by the Tokorosawa Army Flight School in 1922. It had a 230 hp Salmson 9Z engine which explains its French appearance and was based on the Salmson 3C-1. I-struts replaced the normal pairs, the fin and rudder were revised and a faired head-rest added behind the cockpit. The tailplane struts are unusual in that the front one was attached to the fuselage a considerable distance forward of the tailplane. The Japanese also used the Salmson 2A-2 observation aircraft which had a similar engine.