A6M2-K - training flight drawing

Price: 195.00 GBP plus postage and packing.

A6M2-K - training flight.

Graphite on heavy weight Bristol paper. Original available for purchase. Contact me for details: Email Me

Just today finished this one. There are very few references for this 2-seat training version of the A6M2. In fact, my research suggests this aircraft might not have been based on the A6M2 version at all, but on a later model. I looked through my references and scraped together some schematics and wartime photos of the aircraft, and then basing my work on one particular photo, built upon it further with new unit insignia and composition (in reality this aircraft's main colour was an orange/yellow).

The overall airframe was identical to the fighter version, apart from the cockpit being pushed forward to accommodate the student. Notice the ridge on the aft fuselage, between the cockpit and horizontal stabilizer - there's another on the port side and their function? 'Spin stabilization'. The instructor sits behind the pilot and his 20mm cannons have been removed, leaving just the 7.7mm guns for target practice. There is also a heavy duty tail wheel, not doubt put to good use with the heavy landings suffered at the hands of eager students.

These aircraft were used primarily for training, while others had a modified tail configuration for target towing. Later in the war, some of these types were no doubt also squandered in Kamikaze attacks.