{"product_id":"mitsubishi-g4m-betty-collection","title":"Mitsubishi G4M \"Betty\" — Primary-Source Documentation Collection","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMitsubishi G4M \"Betty\" — Primary-Source Documentation Collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Mitsubishi G4M \"Betty\" (一式陸上攻撃機) was the Imperial Japanese Navy's principal land-based medium bomber throughout the Pacific War. Designed under chief engineer Kiro Honjo to achieve the range of a flying boat using only two engines, the G4M represented an extreme engineering tradeoff: maximum aerodynamic purity and range at the cost of armor and structural survivability — earning the Allied nickname \u003cem\u003e\"The Flying Lighter.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAerodynamic Reports \u0026amp; Fuselage Design\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrag Optimization:\u003c\/strong\u003e The cylindrical \"cigar-shaped\" fuselage (Hamaki) featured flush riveting and fully retractable landing gear to minimize parasite drag across its mid-wing configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorpedo Penalty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Accommodating the Type 91 aerial torpedo internally required enlarging the fuselage cross-section, increasing wetted area and demanding high-power engines to compensate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntegral Wet Wing:\u003c\/strong\u003e To achieve 3,000+ nautical mile range, the unarmored wing spar framework was sealed to act directly as fuel tanks. A single incendiary round could ignite fuel vapor instantly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEngine Technical Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eParameter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMK4A Kasei 11 (G4M1)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMK4P Kasei 21 (G4M2)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConfiguration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14-cylinder air-cooled radial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14-cylinder air-cooled radial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTakeoff Power\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,530 hp @ 2,450 RPM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,800 hp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropeller\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-blade Sumitomo-Hamilton CS-3B\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-blade Sumitomo constant-speed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDry Weight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e632 kg (1,393 lbs)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e730 kg (1,609 lbs)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHandling \u0026amp; Stability Studies\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eControl Surfaces:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cantilever monoplane tail with fabric-covered elevators and rudder; metal trim tabs to manage pilot forces on long-range missions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M2 Instability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavier Kasei 21 engines and upgraded turrets shifted the Center of Gravity, causing dangerous longitudinal instability during bombing runs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M3 Correction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Engineers shortened the wingspan, moved the CG forward, and added dihedral to the horizontal stabilizer, eliminating tail-wobble at high speed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePerformance Data (G4M1 Model 11)\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eParameter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eValue\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Speed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e266 mph (428 km\/h) at 13,780 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCruising Speed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e196 mph (315 km\/h) at 9,840 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eService Ceiling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e28,870 ft (8,800 m)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRate of Climb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,800 ft\/min (9.14 m\/s)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,750 miles (6,035 km) unladen\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCombat Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,262 miles under normal load\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMax Payload\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e800 kg bombs or 1 × Type 91 torpedo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEngineering Bulletins \u0026amp; Late-War Modifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M1 Refit (1943):\u003c\/strong\u003e Field units instructed to apply 3 mm rubber sheets to lower wing skins and wrap fuselage fuel lines in sponge rubber to suppress minor leaks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M2e Bulletin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Structural reinforcement of the bomb bay to carry the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka piloted rocket bomb, including electrical release wiring — though the added weight severely degraded performance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M3 Production Directive (1944):\u003c\/strong\u003e Completely redesigned wing with true self-sealing fuel tanks and 7.9 mm armor around crew positions. Only 60 units completed before factory disruptions ended production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCollection Manifest\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVariants covered:\u003c\/strong\u003e G4M1  |  \u003cstrong\u003eTotal Manuals: 2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M1 — Operating \u0026amp; Maintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mitsubishi G4M1 Type 1 Attack Bomber — Provisional Operating Instructions Manual, 一式陸上攻撃機一一型仓取扱説明書 (Japanese Language)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eG4M — Photo Archive:\u003c\/strong\u003e G4M Photographic Collection (English Language)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.\u003cbr\u003eLiving Collections with Free Lifetime Updates — Please review our Disclaimer and Export Notice before purchasing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Online Aviation Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53726775083355,"sku":null,"price":29.85,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/4788\/3867\/files\/g4m-hero.png?v=1786033146","url":"https:\/\/onlineaviationlibrary.com\/products\/mitsubishi-g4m-betty-collection","provider":"Online Aviation Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}