Question on Evergreen's A6M3 being restored to airworthy

[warbird1]

I was at the bookstore, and saw in either the Flight Journal or Air and Space magazine, (I can't remember which), an excellent article written by Ron Werneth (Wixer-Kaigun fan). It has pictures and shows the excellent progress on the Model 32, clipped wing Zero that Darryl Skurich is restoring on behalf of the Evergreen Musueum. I was absolutely amazed to find out that it not only will be restored to airworthy condition, but that it will have the original Sakae engine in it as well! The engine work is being done by Mike Nixon. A few questions on this:

1) I don't believe that Evergreen flies any of their warbirds anymore. Why is this one being restored to airworthy condition? (I'm not complaining, btw). It just seems that with their track record of not flying their airplanes, that they wouldn't go to the extra expense of restoring it to airworthy. Is this airplane going to be sold after completion? Is that why it's being restored to airworthy standards?

2) Since I assume the airplane will not be flown after it is delivered to Evergreen, why are they putting the original Sakae in it? It seems like it could go to much better use on an airworthy bird, such as either Paul Allen's 2 seat Zero, or Tri-State's A6M2? Why not just put a junked Sakae in it and sell the airworthy engine to somebody who really needs it? Also, I've heard that Nabuo Harada needs an airworthy Sakae for his multiple restored Zero's.

3) Is this the same Sakae that was put into airworthy condition a few years ago by the Santa Monica MOF/Flight Magic? I know they had one that was running, but I don't believe it ever was fitted onto a Zero.

Excellent article, Ron! Keep up the good work.

This is a very exciting project as there are no Model 32 Zero's flying in the world. I believe there is only one other restored static version in Japan, IIRC!

[Kaigun Fan]

Hello,

Thanks for your kind words on my Zero article.

Evergreen's A6M3 Zero will be totally airworthy but the last I heard there has been no "official" decision if it will fly or not. I hope so and I know the team does as well.

I believe they have the ex-MOF Sakae engine - that is correct.

Sadly, Harada-san probably will never get permission from the Japanese government to fly any of his aircraft. He told me this personally. The only way they would fly would be overseas but I doubt he would do that.

Regards,

Ron W.

[corsair166b]

If you're interested, I wrote an article on this bird back in 2003 for Classic Wings....need to get back out to Skurich's shop and get some updated pics of her now!

Mark

[Jack Cook]

The answer to your question lies within another question. Who owns the airplane??? The museum or Evergreen itself like all the other "flyable" aircraft on display

[Django]

Pacific Wrecks says it's owned by Evergreen.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a6m3/3318.html

So there were only 343 built? Wow.

[dbrown]

Hello Warbird -

Evergreen does indeed fly their birds - just not too often. The most recent warbirds that Darrell Skurich's shop restored all flew to Oregon except the 109's. Both of those lacked a fuel pump (IIR) so they were transported from Colorado. One went to the USAF Museum and the other to Evergreen's museum. The other birds - P-38, DC-3, P-51 all flew out. They have also done major maintenance on the Avenger and Spitfire in Ft. Collins.

A new wrinkle about flying the Zero out is the fact the airport at which it is based recently closed. If they fly out they either need to get a one time waiver or truck the plane to another nearby airfield to fly out. Of course having to disassemble the tail and then reassemble it (the Zero wings do not detach from the fuselage - the tail detaches from the wings and fuselage assebly) which would be a hassle at best.

FWIW - I produced a couple CD/DVD's that documented the restorations of the 109's and P-38, and plan on doing a CD on the Zero. Problem is I am up to over 3,000 photos of the restoration and they have at least a year left to go! May have to split up the effort into Pt I and Pt 2 and get the first volume out asap.

You can see some pics of the restorations at
www.buffiesbest.com

BTW - as you saw in Ron's excellent article - the work that Larry and the gang are doing at Skurich's shop is nothing less than stunning.







BUFFIE

[Jim MacDonald]

Yes please, get a Zero Vol. 1 done as soon as you can. That's my next project & I can use all the help I can get. Just looked at your site & I'm impressed with the Me-109 photos.

BTW, do you really have a TBD CD in the works? Do you have copies of any of the manuals? If not drop me a PM.

Mac

[Jack Cook]

Evergreen does indeed fly their birds - just not too often

understatement of the year!
Yes, the P-38 flew out but geez how many years ago?? It hasen't flown since.
The P-51 got some work done last year but hasen't been flown either. Nothing flies there.
Everything you're talking about was years ago

[P51Mstg]

Disassemble and truck? Man, we always left under cover of darkness and nobody knew how it got moved.

Nice pics, I'd like to have a copy of the CD.

Question? Does the 109 at the USAFM belong to Evergreen?

Mark H

[Jack Cook]

Does the 109 at the USAFM belong to Evergreen?

Traded for 1 or 2 C-130s.

[Jack Cook]

A new wrinkle about flying the Zero out is the fact the airport at which it is based recently closed

which field closed???

[dbrown]

The downtown Ft Collins airport closed - the one you see as you come into town on HW 114. There were some great shops that used this tucked-away airport, including QG Aviation (Ray did the Lone Star Hurricane there)

All in the name of progress and more housing.

Hey Mac - I will contact you off line about TBD info. (only my #1 fave plane!)



Jack - I sent you a PM about pictures a week ago - did you get that?

BUFFIE

[Jack Cook]

No I didn't.
Was that the week it slow here? It might not have gone through

[dbrown]

Let me know if this pm one does not come through.

Thanks

Derek
buffiesbest@comcast.net