Kawanishi H6K Flying Boat

The Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boat sits upright in the old Japanese flying boat base near Tulaghi Harbour at 30 metres (100 feet).  The aircraft had a wingspan of 40 metres (131 feet) and a length of 25.6 metres (84 feet).  It was powered by four radial air-cooled engines with three-bladed metal airscrews. The wing is mounted above the hull on inverted V-struts and braced by two struts on each side.

The starboard section of the wing is missing at the starboard inner engine and the aircraft is covered in a fine layer of silt.  Although it is a tight squeeze, you can get into the cockpit and see the controls. We swam under the starboard engine and along the fuselage to the twin tails, then returned on the port side to see the wing float and damaged port wingtip. The three remaining engines make a great photo opportunity.

For more information on the Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boats and archival photos, see the Imperial Japanese Navy  website and the Warbirds Resource Group website.