Salmson 2A2 ～Japan-France relations and aviation industry~

Salmson 2A2 replica （Kakamigahara air and space museum park)

Alex

Kakamigahara museum has many plane. Oh, it is Salmson !!

Taisuke

Yes !! It is French Salmson 2A2^^ It was produced in Japan as licensed. It was called ” 乙式一型偵察機 Army Otsu-1 Reconnaissance Aircraft”.

Mae in Kakamigahara Japan in Taisho-era (Wikipedia)

Aircraft have made great strides through WW1 in Europe. -Air power would determines the outcome of war- it was a common understanding for foresighted people.

Before WW1, Japan was already moving towards domestic production, but the technical level was low. So in 1919, Japan invited French aviation education team.

taisuke

In WW1, Japan and France was same team, and French technical level was high.

Exchange meeting in Japan （日本航空協会 http://www.aero.or.jp/web-koku-to-bunka/2019-02/2019-02.htm）

With Admiral Togo （日本航空協会 http://www.aero.or.jp/web-koku-to-bunka/2019-02/2019-02.htm）

In the same time, Japan imported Salmson 2A2×29 from France as teaching material. Thanks for this team, Japanese aviation technology has evolved.

Japan regarded Salmson 2A2 as high performance airclaft, aiming for domestic production. In 1920, first production was made and production was expanding. In 1922, Kawasaki got license to produce it. This was the first domestic aircraft for Kawasaki and Kakamigahara.

Taisuke

After that, Kawasaki developed many planes. Hien is one of the it.

Alex

Hien was introduced before !

Salmson 2A2 was produced until 1927, total：900. They were used front line, left excellent records.