Flight Demo of Genuine Japanese Zero with ORIGINAL WWII Sakae 31 Engine !

I just can't get enough of this aircraft, the only operational, original WWII Japanese aircraft in the world today ! This is the ONLY WWII Japanese aircraft that is flyable today with an original Japanese WWII engine, the Mitsubishi Sakae 14-cylinder, Model 31 "Prosperity". A very, very unique and historic sound ! This is the sound of history and it is very likely that this is the ONLY original WWII Japanese aircraft engine that any of us will ever to be able to hear in person. Of course, this A6M5 Zero is owned by the Planes of Fame Museum located in Chino, California. In the late 1970s, this aircraft was restored to flying staus. The engine was restored by the Stewart-Davis Company in Long Beach, California. Stewart-Davis (no longer in business) had a very good reputation for rebuilding radial engines and, according to Ed Maloney (the founder of the Planes of Fame Museum), Stewart-Davis took on the challenge of rebuilding this essentially one-of-a-kind engine and delivered a zero-time powerplant with no issues at all. Over 30 years later, this engine (on the original rebuild) is still going strong.

This aircraft was built by Nakajima under license from Mitsubishi in May 1943 and was later captured by US Marines on Saipan in June 1944. It was then shipped to Patuxent River, Maryland in the US for evaluation. About 190 hours of flight time were logged during this evaluation, including some hours by Charles Lindbergh himself. After being declared surplus following the war, this aircraft was obtained by Ed Maloney in 1950.

Following completion of the restoration in the late 1970s, a Japanese committee made an invitation to bring the Zero over to Japan to participate in several demonstrations and airshows. This was the first time a Zero had flown over Japan since WWII. The Planes of Fame Museum offers a DVD of this Zero's restoration, test flights and trip to Japan on their website. It is entitled "Zero Fighter Flies Over Japan." A very, very interesting video. I have my own copy, of course! This exact aircraft is also the subject of the "Roaring Glory" A6M5 Zero DVD, also available on the Planes of Fame Museum website. Both of these DVDs are really "must see" items for WWII aircraft enthusiasts!

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[parice]

someone told me that this one ended up crashing. is that true?

[octane130]

@parice: It's not true. In fact the aircraft flew last December 3rd (2011) as part of the Planes of Fame Museum's monthly symposium series held on the first Saturday of each month (see the museum's website). The aircraft is in great condition!

[riderpoet]

I enjoyed reading your write-up. I'm wondering, how did they get the Zero to Japan? I assume it had to be shipped - the logistics of that ferry flight are beyond imagining.

[octane130]

@riderpoet: Hi-- The Zero was flown from Chino, California airport to nearby Long Beach airport and then towed on city streets to Los Angeles Harbor! It was then hoisted by crane onto the aft deck of a Japanese freighter ship for the trip to Japan. Thanks! 

[kirk2425]

It is sad to think of the loss of life at the hand of the zero, but at the same time, the aircraft is indifferent. It was doing exactly what it was designed to do and has no emotion. The B-29 also destroyed and killed a large number of people yet we look at that aircraft with the utmost pride because it was the machine that ended the war in the pacific (both atomic and napalm). The bottom line, war is ugly, aircraft are not.

[petrwarry72]

nice,very nice. thumbs up 5*

[BreezeOfPali]

All those times my older brother called me a ZERO!  Little did I know.

[Keith8yi]

I neglected to mention, the Lawrence Wackett, 'Aircraft Pioneer' book, was published back in 1972. Interesting History. What IF ... IF Australian politicians had wanted to establish, an aircraft industry, just a little earlier?

[Keith8yi]

The information about Sir Lawrence Wackett & the Zero came from his book, 'Aircraft Pioneer', Halstead Press Sydney. ISBN 0 207 12378 0. He said the prototype "was a superb offer, .... & had we been a little further advanced I would have closed with the Vought Company ". Mitsubishi "saved years in development of a first rate fighter. They went straight into production of the Vought with very few modifications & had Zeros in quantity for the Pacific war ...."

[Keith8yi]

Zero 'Prototype' BUILT in USA! An Australian, Sir Lawrence James Wackett, in the process of setting up the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) factory, visited factories in the US & Europe (incl. Germany) in 1937. The Vought Company had missed out on a fighter contract for the US Navy & offered him the prototype & drawings for $50,000. He was only after an advanced trainer & rejected the offer. Mitsubishi bought it. Hackett recognised it during the war, when he saw a downed Zero .

[TheBByamashiro]

if you just can't get enough of this aircraft you must think about the ww2...when your triger happy pilots shuts them down like flies:( are you kidding me?

[shivrrrr]

Amazing engine sound.

[Ashmole3]

What a very distinctive sound.

[wilburhog]

Hi.. I'm the ZERO.. Thanks for watching..