Chuhachi Ninomiya
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese aviation pioneer. He is remembered for his unique aircraft designs - the "Karasu-gata mokei hikouki" ("Crow-type model aircraft", 1891)and the "Tamamushi-gata hikouki" ("Jewel beetle type flyer", 1893). He designed a flying machine with three engines earlier than the Wright brothers, and, even though machine failed to take-off, it contributed to Japan's accumulation of capabilities to design and manufacture unique world-class aircraft by the 1930s
.
, Iyo Province
(now Yawatahama, Ehime
). At the age of 12, his father, a local merchant, died, forcing him to take up a job to make a living. While working at a printing office, drug store, and elsewhere, he taught himself physics and chemistry. He also became an expert at making kite
s and the sale his original models earned him money for books.
. In November 1889, during maneuvers, he saw crows gliding and noticed that they did not flap. He developed the idea of fixed wing aircraft.
Chūhachi made his first model, "Karasu-gata mokei hikouki". This was also the first model aircraft
in Japan. It was a monoplane
, with a wingspan of 45 centimetres. The wing was at a dihedral angle. The four-blade pusher
propeller
, inspired from a bamboo-copter
, was driven by a rubber band. The model was equipped with a horizontal stabilizer at its tail, and a vertical stabilizer
at its nose. It had three wheels as landing gear
. On 29 April 1891 the model ran 3 metres after which it took off and flew 10 metres. The next day, it flew about 36 metres with a hand-launch.
His second model was "Tamamushi-gata hikouki", a tailless
biplane
. The lower wing, which was smaller than the upper, was movable: control surface. The model was also equipped with a four-blade pusher propeller. Chūhachi failed to attract the interest of the Army. During the period he only made scale models (wingspan: 2 metres) in October 1893.
Chūhachi served in First Sino-Japanese War
as a combat medic. After the war, he retired from the army and worked at a pharmaceutical company. He decided to develop a flying machine on his own. Until he became the branch manager in 1906, development stagnated for lack of money. During this period, the Wright brothers
succeeded with a manned flight. But Chūhachi did not hear the news. He built the whole hull of the "Tamamushi model" and planned to equip it with a 12 hp gasoline engine. However, in 1907 or 1908, he learned of the success of manned flights of heavier-than-air aircraft in Europe and America. He despaired and stopped development.
Some experts insist that the "Tamamushi model" would not have flown even if it were completed, since it was just too heavy. In April 1991 a replica of the "Tamamushi model", with alterations to improve stability, successfully flew a distance of 50 meters (136 feet).
In 1921 lieutenant general Yoshinori Shirakawa suveyed Chūhachi's plan and recognized the value. In 1922 the Army commended him. Minister Adachi Kenzo
(in 1925), and Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
(in 1926) also commended him. In 1927, he was awarded order
.
In his last years, he became a kannushi
(priest of shinto
) to pray for dead people who were killed in aviation accidents.
Chūhachi died of stomach cancer on 8 April 1936.
.
Early life
Chuhhachhi was born in Yawatahama-ura, Uwa DistrictUwa District, Ehime
was a district in Iyo Province , Japan.-History:*866 - Uwa District divided into Uwa and Kita Districts.*On February 25, 1876, Okinoshima, Himejima, and Ugurujima Islands were sent to Hata District in Tosa Province...
, Iyo Province
Iyo Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku. Iyo bordered on Awa, Sanuki, and Tosa Provinces. It was sometimes called ....
(now Yawatahama, Ehime
Yawatahama, Ehime
is a city located in the southwestern part of Ehime, Japan and has the largest fish market on Shikoku. The Mikan is the featured agricultural product....
). At the age of 12, his father, a local merchant, died, forcing him to take up a job to make a living. While working at a printing office, drug store, and elsewhere, he taught himself physics and chemistry. He also became an expert at making kite
Kite
A kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
s and the sale his original models earned him money for books.
Idea for flying
In 1887 Chūhachi was conscripted into the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. In November 1889, during maneuvers, he saw crows gliding and noticed that they did not flap. He developed the idea of fixed wing aircraft.
Chūhachi made his first model, "Karasu-gata mokei hikouki". This was also the first model aircraft
Model aircraft
Model aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass...
in Japan. It was a monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
, with a wingspan of 45 centimetres. The wing was at a dihedral angle. The four-blade pusher
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
, inspired from a bamboo-copter
Bamboo-copter
The bamboo-copter or bamboo dragonfly is a toy propeller that flies up when its shaft is rapidly spun...
, was driven by a rubber band. The model was equipped with a horizontal stabilizer at its tail, and a vertical stabilizer
Vertical stabilizer
The vertical stabilizers, vertical stabilisers, or fins, of aircraft, missiles or bombs are typically found on the aft end of the fuselage or body, and are intended to reduce aerodynamic side slip. It is analogical to a skeg on boats and ships.On aircraft, vertical stabilizers generally point upwards...
at its nose. It had three wheels as landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
. On 29 April 1891 the model ran 3 metres after which it took off and flew 10 metres. The next day, it flew about 36 metres with a hand-launch.
His second model was "Tamamushi-gata hikouki", a tailless
Tailless aircraft
A tailless aircraft traditionally has all its horizontal control surfaces on its main wing surface. It has no horizontal stabilizer - either tailplane or canard foreplane . A 'tailless' type usually still has a vertical stabilising fin and control surface...
biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
. The lower wing, which was smaller than the upper, was movable: control surface. The model was also equipped with a four-blade pusher propeller. Chūhachi failed to attract the interest of the Army. During the period he only made scale models (wingspan: 2 metres) in October 1893.
Chūhachi served in First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
as a combat medic. After the war, he retired from the army and worked at a pharmaceutical company. He decided to develop a flying machine on his own. Until he became the branch manager in 1906, development stagnated for lack of money. During this period, the Wright brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
succeeded with a manned flight. But Chūhachi did not hear the news. He built the whole hull of the "Tamamushi model" and planned to equip it with a 12 hp gasoline engine. However, in 1907 or 1908, he learned of the success of manned flights of heavier-than-air aircraft in Europe and America. He despaired and stopped development.
Some experts insist that the "Tamamushi model" would not have flown even if it were completed, since it was just too heavy. In April 1991 a replica of the "Tamamushi model", with alterations to improve stability, successfully flew a distance of 50 meters (136 feet).
Later life
He concentrated on his work at the pharmaceutical company .In 1921 lieutenant general Yoshinori Shirakawa suveyed Chūhachi's plan and recognized the value. In 1922 the Army commended him. Minister Adachi Kenzo
Adachi Kenzo
was a Japanese politician of Taishō and early Shōwa periods. Originally from Kumamoto, he was involved in the murder of the Korean queen in 1895. He was a founding member of the Kumamoto National Party and was elected to the House of Representatives of Japan in 1902. He was active in the Rikken...
(in 1925), and Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi
was a member of the Japanese imperial family and a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Meiji and Taishō periods. He was the father of Empress Kōjun , and therefore, the maternal grandfather of the present emperor of Japan, Akihito.-Early life:Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi was born in...
(in 1926) also commended him. In 1927, he was awarded order
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
.
In his last years, he became a kannushi
Kannushi
A , also called , is the person responsible for the maintenance of a Shinto shrine as well as for leading worship of a given kami. The characters for kannushi are sometimes also read jinshu with the same meaning....
(priest of shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
) to pray for dead people who were killed in aviation accidents.
Chūhachi died of stomach cancer on 8 April 1936.
External links
- Photo of 1/10 model of Chūhachi Ninomiya's buprestidae type airplane (driven by balance springBalance springA balance spring, or hairspring, is a part used in mechanical timepieces. The balance spring, attached to the balance wheel, controls the speed at which the wheels of the timepiece turn, and thus the rate of movement of the hands...
) display at Modern Transportation MuseumModern Transportation MuseumThe is the corporate museum of the West Japan Railway Company in Osaka, Japan. It opened in 1962, next to Bentencho Station on the Osaka Loop Line...
http://www.city.yawatahama.ehime.jp/02shoukai/06_paionia/01_chuuhachi/01_dare/dare.htm