Handbook of Imperial Military Aircraft (1896-1914)

Part 1:

Standard aviation float equipment developed between 1896 and 1904

1. Aviation weapons (excluding instructor equipment)

FJZ-2 "Whirlwind" reconnaissance aircraft: wood, bone, canvas leather, biplane, single-seater, using a Taipei Ocean Heavy Industry HK-7B 60-horsepower aero engine, maximum speed of 115 kilometers per hour, range of 230 kilometers, ceiling of 2,000 meters, no weapons. Finalized production in 1900.

FJZ-3 "Cangfeng" reconnaissance aircraft: wood, bone canvas leather, biplane, single-seater, using a Taipei Ocean Heavy Industry HK-8A 80-horsepower aero engine, maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour, range of 290 kilometers, ceiling of 3,500 meters, no weapons. Its improved "Cangfeng Jia" uses the 120 horsepower engine of the HK-8D type, and the shape of the wing has been improved, the speed has been increased to 160 kilometers per hour, and the range has reached 310 kilometers. Finalized production in 1901.

FJZ-4 "Huofeng" reconnaissance aircraft: wood, bone canvas leather, two-wing, two-seater, using a Taipei Ocean Heavy Industry HK-8C 100 horsepower engine, maximum speed of 128 kilometers per hour, range of 320 kilometers, ceiling of 2500 meters, equipped with a rear-firing machine gun, the fuselage special bomb rack can be loaded with up to 16 grenades. Finalized production in 1901.

FJZJ-4 "Huofeng J" Artillery Calibration Machine: Improved from the "Huofeng" reconnaissance aircraft, the machine gun and cartridge rack are eliminated, and the rear seat is equipped with a color signal gun, which can be used to provide simple calibration data for artillerymen. It was finalized in 1902.

FJZL-5 "Gale" reconnaissance and liaison aircraft: wood, bone and canvas leather, two-wing, two-seater, using a Taipei Ocean Heavy Industry HK-8D 120-horsepower aero engine, maximum speed of 136 kilometers per hour, range of 450 kilometers, ceiling of 3,000 meters, unarmed. It was finalized in 1903.

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FJQH-1 "Qingfeng" light bomber: wood bone canvas leather, biplane, two-seater, using two Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-8D 120 horsepower aero engine, maximum speed of 131 kilometers per hour, ceiling of 2800 meters. The rear seat is equipped with a machine gun, a total of 5 bomb racks under the fuselage and wings, a maximum bomb load of 250 kg, and a maximum range of 430 km with 200 kg of bombs. It was finalized in 1903. After 1904, front-line combat aircraft were loaded with one bombardier.

FJQH-1J "Sunny Wind J" Artillery Calibrator: Improved from the "Sunny Wind" light bomber, the bomb rack and machine gun were eliminated, and a low-power radio station and calibration equipment were installed, and the maximum speed was reduced to 115 kilometers per hour. It was finalized in 1903.

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SJZ-2 "Thunder" water reconnaissance aircraft: wooden, canvas, biplane, single-seater, three-pontoon, using a Taipei Ocean Heavy Industry HK-8A 80 horsepower engine, the maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, the range of 340 kilometers, the ceiling of 2400 meters, unarmed.

SJZ-3 "Dingdian" water reconnaissance aircraft: wood, bone canvas leather, two-wing, two-seater, three-pontoon, using a Taipei Ocean Heavy Industry HK-8C 100 horsepower engine, the maximum speed of 122 kilometers per hour, the range of 400 kilometers, the ceiling of 3000 meters. The rear seat is equipped with a machine gun and a special bomb rack outside the fuselage, which can carry 16-20 large flares or grenades.

SJZ-3J "Den J" Maritime Artillery Calibrator: It is a modified "Bolt" machine, equipped with low-power radio and calibration equipment, and equipped with a signal gun, with a speed of 110 kilometers per hour and a range of 370 kilometers.

2. Floating weapons (excluding instructor equipment)

FQJ-2 Artillery School Launch Balloon: Single Airbag, Hot Air Balloon Principle, No Cover, Cable 1500 meters long, 1000 meters ceiling, maximum lifting speed 150 meters per minute, 1 gondola limit, self-sustaining force for 4 hours. Finalized production in 1897.

FQJ-3 Artillery School-launched Balloon: Single airbag, relying on gas combustion hot gas to take off and suspension, soft cover, cable length 2500 meters, maximum lift-off speed of 200 meters per minute, ceiling of 2000 meters, gondola limit of 2 people, self-sustaining force of 7 hours. Finalized production in 1900.

FQJZ-3 Reconnaissance Balloon: Modified on the basis of FQJ-3, without calibration equipment, with added aerial observation, photographic and mapping instruments. Finalized production in 1901.

FTZ-1 "Feiyun" reconnaissance airship: single airbag, soft cover, equipped with 1 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-7B 50 horsepower aero engine, driving 1 double-bladed propeller, maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour (no wind), ceiling of 3000 meters, maximum range of about 300 kilometers (no wind) at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, open pod, limited to 5 people, no fixed weapons. It was finalized in 1898 and mass production began in 1899.

FTZ-2 "Shengyun" reconnaissance airship: double airbags, hard structure shell, equipped with 2 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-8A 80 horsepower aircraft engine, driving 2 three-bladed propellers, maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour (no wind), maximum range of 700 kilometers at 50 kilometers per hour (no bomb, no wind), open pod, limited to 5 people, ceiling 3500 meters, no fixed weapons, light external bomb racks, can be hung with 5, 10, 25, 50 kg of small bombs, maximum bomb load of 200 kg. It was finalized and mass-produced in 1900.

FTZ-2J "Shengyun J" Artillery School Launch Airship: Modified from the prototype of the "Shengyun" reconnaissance airship, it has no bomb rack, reduced fuel load, is equipped with school shooting equipment and medium-power radio stations, is limited to 6 people, and has a self-sustaining capacity of 8 hours. It was finalized in 1902.

FTZ-3 "Pingyun" reconnaissance airship: three airbags, structural hard shell, equipped with 2 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-8C 100 horsepower aero engine, driving 2 three-bladed propellers, maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour (no wind), maximum range of about 1500 kilometers at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour (no bomb, no wind), ceiling of 5000 meters, semi-enclosed pod, limited to 7 people, equipped with 2 self-defense 7 point 92 mm light machine guns, with a light external bomb rack, can be hung with a maximum of 50 kg bombs, The maximum bomb load is 200 kg. It was finalized in 1901 and mass production began in 1902.

FTZ-3J "Pingyun J" Artillery School Launch Airship: Based on the "Pingyun" reconnaissance airship, the bomb rack and machine gun are cancelled, the pod is limited to 8 people, equipped with school shooting equipment and a high-power radio station, and has a self-sustaining power of 12 hours. It was finalized in 1903 and mass production began in 1904.

FTG-1 "Qingyun" light attack airship: three airbags, wooden skeleton, hard shell, equipped with 4 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-8D 120 horsepower aero engine, driving 4 three-bladed propellers, maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour (no wind), ceiling 3500 meters, open pod, limited to 4 people, equipped with 2 7 point 92 mm light machine guns for self-defense. Equipped with 2 external bomb racks, it can carry all kinds of bombs below 100 kg (inclusive), with a maximum bomb load of 800 kg and a maximum range of 800 km when carrying 500 kg bombs. Finalized production in 1900.

It is 128 meters long and 12.5 meters in diameter.

FTG-2 "Ziyun" medium attack airship: nine airbags, wooden skeleton, structural rigid shell, equipped with 4 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-9C 180 horsepower aero engine, maximum speed of 108 kilometers per hour, semi-enclosed pod, limited to 4 people, ceiling 5000 meters, equipped with 2 7 points 92 mm light machine guns for self-defense. Equipped with 1 bomb bay and 2 external bomb racks, the maximum bomb load is 3.5 tons, and the range when carrying 2 tons of bombs is 1200 kilometers. Finalized production in 1901.

It is 181 meters long and 21.2 meters in diameter.

Note: The self-sustaining power of the anti-submarine patrol type improved/modified on the basis of the prototype lasted for 24 hours, and by 1915 a total of 12 ships were equipped.

FTG-3 "Qiangyun" large attack airship: 16 airbags, aluminum alloy skeleton, structural rigid shell, equipped with 6 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-9C 180 horsepower aero engine, driving 6 five-blade propellers, maximum speed of 105 kilometers per hour, semi-enclosed pod, limited to 6 people, ceiling 6000 meters, equipped with 2 self-defense machine guns. There is a large bomb bay and two external bomb racks, the maximum bomb load is 8 tons, and the range when carrying 5 tons of bombs is 1600 km. It was finalized in 1902.

It is 211 meters long and 25.4 meters in diameter.

Most of them have been converted to anti-submarine/passenger types, and at least 12 ultra-long-range anti-submarine patrol airships with self-sustaining power of more than 36 hours have been built/renovated on the basis of them.

SFTG-4 "Chiyun" giant attack airship: 36 airbags, aluminum alloy skeleton, structural rigid shell, equipped with 8 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-9D 200 horsepower aero engine, maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, semi-enclosed armored pod and machine gun tower, ceiling of 7000 meters. The pod is equipped with 2 machine guns at the front and rear, 2 machine gun towers on the left and right sides of the airship, 2 rotating machine gun towers at the front and rear of the upper deck of the airship, and 2 combined machine guns in each machine gun tower, and the whole boat is equipped with a total of 16 self-defense machine guns, which are operated by 10 machine gunners. The whole boat has 20 people, including 6 chief and co-pilots (including the chief and deputy captains), 6 machine gunners, 4 mechanics and machine gunners, 2 navigators, and 2 radiomen and military doctors. The pod contains a large built-in bomb bay with a maximum bomb load of 18 tons and a range of about 8,000 kilometers when carrying 12 tons of bombs and up to 12,000 kilometers when carrying 6 tons of bombs. In 1904, it was finalized, because it was not completed before the start of the war, and the official number was preceded by the letter S (i.e., experimental).

It is 265 meters long and 31 meters in diameter.

A total of 4 ships were built, with an average cost of £250,000.

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Part II

Standard aviation equipment developed between 1905 and 1918:

1. Reconnaissance aircraft

* ZL-6 "Yunfeng" reconnaissance / liaison aircraft: wood bone, sail veneer, two-seater, two-wing. Equipped with a Jiangnan-made ZK-1A 120-horsepower aero engine, with a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour, an altitude of 4,000 meters, a rear-firing machine gun, and a bomb pylon, it can carry 100 kg of bombs and a maximum range of 400 kilometers.

Tests were completed in 1906, mass production began in 07, to replace the unarmed FJZL-5 "Gale", and by 12 years of discontinuation, a total of 428 were produced for the Army Air Corps, of which 48 were converted into special calibration aircraft, and after 1915 they were gradually retired from active service.

* ZL-7 "Tianfeng" reconnaissance/liaison aircraft: It is the successor of "Yunfeng", equipped with a ZK-2B 130-horsepower aviation engine made in Jiangnan, with a maximum speed of 165 kilometers per hour, an altitude of 5,000 meters, and a rear-firing machine gun, which can carry 100 kg of bombs and a maximum range of 480 kilometers.

It was finalized in 1910 and began mass production in the same year, and successively developed the school-fired type, the expulsion type, and the attack type, and by the time the production was discontinued in 15, a total of more than 500 aircraft were built.

* ZL-8 "Yufeng" reconnaissance / liaison aircraft: aluminum bone sail veneer, two-seater, two-wing. Equipped with a 140-horsepower aircraft engine made in Jiangnan, the maximum speed is 180 kilometers per hour, the ceiling is 6,000 meters, and it is equipped with a rear-firing machine gun, which can carry 100 kg of bombs and has a maximum range of 520 kilometers.

During the war, the army and navy used standard land reconnaissance and liaison planes were mass-produced, and the school-firing type and the high-attack type were developed one after another. Among them, the 15-year-old strong attack type is equipped with a ZK-3 190-horsepower engine, equipped with cockpit, fuel tank armor and 2 forward-firing machine guns, which can carry 10 10 kg or 4 25 kg bomblets to carry out ground attack missions.

It was finalized in 1913, and by 1918, the production of various types was as high as 4,048 (including 1,020 strong attack types). The average cost of a single Recon Contact is £500.

* ZL-9 "Dongfeng" reconnaissance / bomber: aluminum-boned sail veneer, three-seater, two-wing. It is equipped with a Jiangnan-made ZK-3 190-horsepower aircraft engine, with a maximum speed of 196 kilometers per hour, an altitude of 7,000 meters, and a rear-firing machine gun, with a maximum range of 700 kilometers. Originally, it was a fast long-range reconnaissance aircraft developed at the request of the army, and later developed a light bomber type and a naval type, of which the light bomber type was replaced with a 220-horsepower aircraft engine of the HK-10 type, which can carry 250 kg of bombs, the naval reconnaissance type has a maximum range of 860 kilometers, and the naval attack type can carry a 336-kilogram 356 mm (14 in) aviation torpedo.

It was finalized in 1914, and by 1918, the total production of each type reached 1,926 (including 426 naval types). The average cost of a single machine is equivalent to £900.

2. Destroyer

* QZ-1 "Lightning" destroyer: aluminum-boned sail veneer, single-seater, double-wing, equipped with a Jiangnan-made ZK-3 190 horsepower aero engine, with a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour, a maximum range of 400 kilometers, and an altitude of 6,000 meters. Equipped with 2 forward-firing heavy machine guns, 1000 rounds of ammunition (4 cartridges of 250 rounds), equipped with a propeller linkage firing device, which can carry 50 kg of bombs.

It was finalized in 1913 and designed as a standard air superiority destroyer from the beginning, and developed the "Sea Lightning" for naval use. By 1915, 800 were produced for the Army type and 120 for the Navy type. The average cost of a single machine is £500. It was the main destroyer in the country at the time of the war.

3. Standard carrier-based attack aircraft

* JG-1 "Thunder Eagle" carrier-based attack aircraft: aluminum skeleton sail veneer, two-seater, two-wing. It is equipped with 1 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries' HK-10 220 horsepower aero engine, with a maximum speed of 165 kilometers per hour and a ceiling of 4,500 meters. Loads 1 machine gun. The maximum range is 600 km with a 450-kilogram 450-mm aerial torpedo (range 1000 m and speed 35 knots). It can also carry 1 250 kg bomb plus 4 50 kg bombs, or 8 50 kg bombs.

In 1913, it was finalized and produced as a special carrier-based aircraft for the Navy, and by 1915 a total of 360 aircraft were produced, including the improved version.

The average cost of a single machine is about £900.

Comparison: British "Cuckoo" carrier-based attack aircraft, commissioned in 1918, produced 120 units, engine Sunbeam Arabpiston (200 hp), maximum speed 100 mph (160 km/h), range 400 miles (640 km), can carry 1 450 kg 18-inch (457 mm) aviation torpedo.

Itcarriedasingle18inch(457mm)torpedounderitsfuselage. Itwaspoweredbya200hp(150kW)SunbeamArabpistonengine，hadamaxspeedofjustover100mph(160km/h)，herendurancewasjustoverthreehoursandherrangewasover400miles(640km).

Fourth, the standard light bomber

* QH-2 "Clear Thunder" light bomber: wooden bone, sail veneer, four-seater, two-wing. It is equipped with two ZK-2C 140-horsepower aero engines made in Jiangnan, with a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour and a ceiling of 3,500 meters. Equipped with 2 machine guns, 1 in the front and 1 in the rear, and 1200 rounds of ammunition. The maximum range with 250 kg of bombs is 480 km.

Production began in 1908, and by the time it was discontinued in 1912, a total of 436 aircraft had been produced. After 1916, he was discharged from active service.

* QH-3 "Wind Thunder" light bomber: wood bone, sail veneer, four-seater, two-wing. It is equipped with two ZK-3 190-horsepower aero engines made in Jiangnan, with a maximum speed of 170 kilometers per hour and a ceiling of 4,500 meters. Equipped with 3 machine guns, 2 in the front and 1 in the rear, with 1600 rounds of ammunition. The maximum range with a 350-kilogram bomb is 540 km.

In 1912, it was finalized and produced, and successively developed models such as school shooting and reconnaissance, and by the time it was discontinued in 1916, a total of 1,556 models were produced, which was the main force of the army bomber force at the time of the war. The average cost of a single machine is equivalent to £1,500.

5. Standard heavy bombers

*ZH-1 "Yanfeng" heavy bomber: wood bone, sail and veneer, wings, three-seater, using three Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-9C 180 horsepower engine, driving three five-bladed wooden propellers, with a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour and a practical ceiling of 4,500 meters. 2 self-defense machine guns with a maximum range of 500 km with 1100 kg of bombs. One machine gun in the front and one in the rear. It was finalized in 1904. Since it was not completed before the start of the war, the official designation is preceded by the letter S (i.e., experiment). By 1910, a total of 120 aircraft were produced, and after 1915 they were gradually decommissioned.

* ZH-2 "Yanlei" heavy bomber: aluminum-boned sail veneer, wings, crew of 5 (machine gunner, navigator, co-pilot, radioman), 5 self-defense machine guns. It is equipped with 4 Taipei Ocean Heavy Industries HK-10 220 horsepower aero engines, with a maximum speed of 170 kilometers per hour and a ceiling of 5,000 meters. The maximum range is 1600 km when the bomb is loaded with 800 kg.

The Navy modified the HK-10B with a 250-horsepower engine and enlarged fuel tank, with a maximum range of 1,900 kilometers when carrying 800 kg of bombs, and more than 2,200 kilometers when carrying a 450-kilogram 450-mm aviation torpedo.

Heavy long-range bombers, finalized in 1910, and by 1915 a total of 360 were produced, which was the most important long-range bombing force at the beginning of the war. The average cost of a single machine is equivalent to £3,000.

6. Seaplanes

SJ-4 "Blue Bird" water reconnaissance aircraft: wooden bone, sail and veneer, double wing, double seat, double pontoon, 1 self-defense machine gun. It is equipped with one Jiangnan-made ZK-2C 140-horsepower aero engine, with a maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour and a range of 550 kilometers. It can carry 50 kg of bombs.

The modification included an artillery school firing machine and a liaison aircraft.

In 1909, it was finalized, and by 1912, a total of 156 planes were produced, mainly equipped with naval aviation, and scattered on harbors, outer islands, and warships. After 1916, it was gradually decommissioned.

SJ-5 "Seagull" water reconnaissance aircraft: aluminum bone sail veneer, double wing, three-seater, single pontoon boat and auxiliary pontoon boat on both sides, 1 self-defense machine gun. It is equipped with one JK-3 190-horsepower aero engine made in Jiangnan, with a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour and a range of 800 kilometers. It can carry 100 kg of bombs.

The improved version includes artillery calibrators and liaison aircraft, which are widely carried on water engine carriers and large warships.

In 1913, it was finalized, and by 1917, a total of 370 aircraft of various modifications were produced, mainly equipped with naval aviation.

7. Airship

STG-5 "Longyun" giant attack airship. On the basis of the "Red Cloud", most of the armor equipped on the original "Red Cloud" was removed, the number of airbags was subdivided into 98, and the power was strengthened into 8 more reliable HK-10A 250-horsepower aero engines, and the same as the "Red Cloud", the engine was equipped with a silencing device, with a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour downwind and a maximum ceiling of 8,000 meters. In addition to the 16 machine guns in the same configuration as the "Red Cloud", the self-defense weapons are equipped with four additional 37mm naval guns that can fire time-defended space-time explosive shells, two of which are mounted on the earrings on both sides of the upper deck of the airship, and the other two are mounted on the earrings on both sides of the pods. The crew is 28.

The maximum bomb load of the large bomb bay is 24 tons, and the range can reach 12,000 kilometers when carrying 16 tons of bombs, and up to 16,000 kilometers when carrying 8 tons of bombs (theoretically it can travel freely between the western tip of Xinjiang and Britain).

It is 270 meters long and 33 meters in diameter.

In 1910, 12 ships began to be built in batches, which, together with the original 4 "Chiyun", formed the backbone of the ultra-long-range strategic bombing force. Due to the use of advanced management methods and modular construction methods, coupled with the effect of mass production, the cost of a single ship is only 200,000 pounds.

Several of them were converted into special attack airships, each of which can carry 80 air commandos and their equipment to carry out air assault missions (at this time the range is 12,000 kilometers), equipped with 6 rope anchors on the side of the boat to ensure stable suspension, and when the airship descends to 100 meters to 50 meters and achieves stable suspension, the commandos carry out rapid descent through the zip line. All self-defense weapons were retained, and the crew was 28.