Mitsubishi AM6 ZERO

[Big J]

A restored Mitsubishi Zero may be the first Zero to fly over Japan since 1945!

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...ighter-plane-prepped-first-flight-since-wwii/

Only snag is, it's owned by a US company, and there's just one pilot in the world qualified to fly the type, and he's an American! (Go USA!).

 

[filfoster]

Neat plane. Our Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton has one that took about 30 years to restore, the parts are so rare, and it's not in flying condition. Imagine the insurance on that airworthy one!

Didn't the Confederate Air Force in Texas have one that was also in flying condition?

 

[Big J]

There's a couple here on static display.
I think one of the biggest problems is parts, and safety. The design isn't very good for safety certification in Japan these days, and many original parts were substandard due to materials shortage in the later years of the war. If you could find a stash of NOS parts, they might not be very good. Unlike (say) Spitfires or Mustangs, there just isn't a similar cottage industry knocking out new replacement/reconditioned parts.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

[video=youtube;ZuoVlQOO4xc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc[/video]

 

[Stearmen]

[video=youtube;ZuoVlQOO4xc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc[/video]

Thanks V.C., I knew this was not the first time, 1978 was!

 

[Stearmen]

Neat plane. Our Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton has one that took about 30 years to restore, the parts are so rare, and it's not in flying condition. Imagine the insurance on that airworthy one!

Didn't the Confederate Air Force in Texas have one that was also in flying condition?

The Commemorative Air Force does have a rare Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero, but it is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R1830 14 cylinder engine, instead of the original Sakai. It does have more power then the original!

 

[Big J]

Thanks V.C., I knew this was not the first time, 1978 was!

If this US owned and piloted Zero is safety certified by the Japanese, it will be the first Zero to fly in Japanese skies since 1945 (right now, the Japanese right-wing is all in a tizzy; they want it to fly for the 70th anniversary and to glorify the war, but they can't cope with the nationality of it's ownership and pilot).

 

[bentusian]

A restored Mitsubishi Zero may be the first Zero to fly over Japan since 1945!

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...ighter-plane-prepped-first-flight-since-wwii/

Only snag is, it's owned by a US company, and there's just one pilot in the world qualified to fly the type, and he's an American! (Go USA!).

As far as I know the guy in the cockpit is the director of The Few Mfg. Co. / RMNZ.
According to the article he's the current owner, so is he an American citizen?

 

[Big J]

As far as I know the guy in the cockpit is the director of The Few Mfg. Co. / RMNZ.
According to the article he's the current owner, so is he an American citizen?

All I can tell you is what the Japanese FAA is saying, which is that the type qualified pilot is a US citizen, and the aircraft is owned by a US company.

I didn't know that the guy in the cockpit in the photo is the owner of Real McCoys. Now I know why his jackets are so expensive. Let's see how this plays out- if it's exploited for Japanese neo-nationalism, I'll have to start slamming the guy.

 

[bentusian]

The owner of The Few Mfg. seems to have long been interested in the legacy of Zero fighter.

http://www.geocities.jp/jettrink_shop/akagia2.html

I find it a bit discomforting though, no matter what the intentions were..

 

[Big J]

The owner of The Few Mfg. seems to have long been interested in the legacy of Zero fighter.

http://www.geocities.jp/jettrink_shop/akagia2.html

I find it a bit discomforting though, no matter what the intentions were..

Yeah, I agree. I'm not sure the 70th anniversary of the war is a good choice for flying that zero over Japan, given what's happening to the Japanese constitution right now. It stinks of imperialist agenda.

Judging by that jacket, he seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis.

 

[filfoster]

If this US owned and piloted Zero is safety certified by the Japanese, it will be the first Zero to fly in Japanese skies since 1945 (right now, the Japanese right-wing is all in a tizzy; they want it to fly for the 70th anniversary and to glorify the war, but they can't cope with the nationality of it's ownership and pilot).

My pre-PC mind wonders if the 'Enola Gay' is also airworthy.....

 

[Stand By]

Perhaps they could re-enact a scene from The Final Countdown with it …?

 

[Otter]

My pre-PC mind wonders if the 'Enola Gay' is also airworthy.....

I think it is in sections now Only flyable one is the CAF "FiFi". Kermit Weeks owns one of the Navy variants, currently stored disassembled, might still be flyable, but don't hold your breath.

 

[filfoster]

I think it is in sections now Only flyable one is the CAF "FiFi". Kermit Weeks owns one of the Navy variants, currently stored disassembled, might still be flyable, but don't hold your breath.

This one (FiFi) flew over our house in Fort Thomas KY, 20+ years ago, on its way to a show and tell weekend at a local airport, Lunken, where they gave tours and, for a hefty ticket, took folks aloft. What a noise! Man, the sound alone would have scared me into surrender.

 

[Otter]

I have seen a Fortress flying and a Vulcan, but never a B29, that would have been impressive. I looked into the B17 flights that you can get last time I was in the States but the timing was wrong, much to the satisfaction of my bank and the wife.

 

[filfoster]

I have seen a Fortress flying and a Vulcan, but never a B29, that would have been impressive. I looked into the B17 flights that you can get last time I was in the States but the timing was wrong, much to the satisfaction of my bank and the wife.

The B-17 also visits Lunken annually and the tariff for a ride is about $500. My better half would not be supportive unless I promised to jump.

 

[SIGGY]

B-29 & Zero info .....

There's another B-29 out west nearing completion to "Flying" status Named "Doc" check the net you'll find photos etc on it .......
Here's a Zero I recently saw fly at the Lakeland Florida EAA fly in,
BTW, the Zero is owned by the Texas Flying Musuem.

 

[Stand By]

I have seen a Fortress flying and a Vulcan, but never a B29, that would have been impressive. I looked into the B17 flights that you can get last time I was in the States but the timing was wrong, much to the satisfaction of my bank and the wife.

FiFi came up to the Hamilton Air Museum a couple of summers ago ... I'd never seen a B-29 at an air show before and it's a thing of beauty.


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[Big J]

Perhaps they could re-enact a scene from The Final Countdown with it …?

View attachment 32207

That would be awesome!
I read that one of the F-14s nearly stalled out filming those shots