FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

The Aichi D3A (allied code name "Val") was the workhorse and, perhaps, most famous dive bomber for the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II. It took two years to develop between 1937 and 1939 due to some instability problems, but the final result was a high maneuverable, albeit slow, aircraft capable of high-speed, accurate dives. The D3A1 Model 11 was introduced in 1940 and followed the "monoplane with fixed landing gear" design. It was revised in late 1942 with a more powerful (1,300 hp) engine and larger fuel tanks. This version was known as the D3A2 Model 22. The remaining D3A1s were sent back home to be used as trainers. As the war came to a close, many D3As were used as fighers (remember, they were agile) and for kamikaze missions. Aichi produced 479 D3A1 and 1,016 D3A2 models. The D3A1 shown below has markings for a Val flown from the aircraft carrier Akagi that would have been flown in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Here's a short clip of me flying a F4F Wildcat against a flock of D3A1 Vals with fighter escort. Exciting!

AICHI D3A1 Model 11 "Val"

 

 

 Class: Dive Bomber

 Crew: 2

 Engine: Mitsubishi Kinsei 44 14-cylinder, twin row radial (1,070 hp)

 Max Speed: 242 mph at 9,845 ft

 Climb Rate: 1,507 ft/min

 Service Ceiling: 30,500 ft

 Range: 915 miles

 Armament: 1 x .303 inch machine gun (flexible mount rear-firing)
                       2 x .303 inch machine gun (wing mount)
                       1 x 550 lb bomb and 2 x 132 lb bombs

 

  Model Scale:  1:100




















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