舊日本海軍「二式大艇」最大航続距離７２００公里

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

最大航続距離７２００ｋｍ「二式大艇」再び公開

　鹿児島県鹿屋市の海上自衛隊鹿屋航空基地史料館の屋外にある「二式大型飛行艇」の保存整備作業が終了し、２２日、一般公開が再開された。

　１９４２年に旧日本海軍が導入した飛行艇で、乗員１０人。水面に離着水し、最大速度は時速４５３キロ、最大航続距離は約７２００キロと、当時、世界最高水準の性能を誇っていたという。１６７機が製造され、偵察や輸送に使われた。

　現存するのはこの１機のみ。香川県の旧海軍基地にあった機体を米海軍が持ち帰って調査。７９年に返還され、船の科学館（東京）で展示後、２００４年に史料館に移された。雨漏りや塗装の剥がれがあり、７月末から修復作業に入っていた。

　再公開を前に２１日、非公開の機内も含め、報道陣に公開された。外観は鮮やかな緑色と銀色で塗り分けられている一方、機内は操縦席や機器類の傷みが進んでいる部分も多かった。

　松永幸雄館長（６４）は「３か月間、足場が組まれ、機体を見ることができなかったが、修復できれいになった。ぜひ、間近で見学してほしい」と話した。

　開館は午前９時～午後５時。年末年始以外は無休。

（2013年11月23日16時48分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

   

     The preservation and maintenance work for the "Formula Two Large-Sized Flying Boat" at the outside of the Maritime Self Defense Force Kanoya air base archive in Kanoya-city, Kagoshima was completed; it was open to the general public again on the 22^nd (November).

     

     It was the flying boat which the Imperial Japanese Navy introduced in 1942, and there were ten crew members. It was said that, above the water surface, its maximum speed was of 453 km/h and its maximum range was 7200 km. It was a proud performance and was at the world's best standards in those days. 167 flying boats were manufactured and they were used for reconnaissance and transportation.

     This was the only one that existed. It was in the old naval base in Kagawa Prefecture from where the US Navy brought it home to investigate the plane body. It was returned in 1979, and after its exhibition in the Museum of Maritime Science (Tokyo), it was moved to the archive in 2004. There were peeling of paint and leaking at the roof and it received repair works starting from the end of July.

     It was opened to reporters on the 21^st, including the secret inside the plane, before opening to the public again. While its outlook was painted in bright green and silver color, in the inside of the plane at the cockpit and the apparatus, there were many bruise parts and was progressing.

      Yukio Matsunaga the superintendent (64) said "although the scaffolding was constructed for three months and the plane body cannot be seen, it would become beautiful after the restoration. I want you to inspect it up close by all means".

      The opening hours were 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no vacation except at the year end and the New Year holidays.

Obviously the technology level of Japan was very high during the early 1940s.