What's the ID on this Tora Kate?

Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:28 pm

I didn't want to hijack the P-40/China thread, so here's a link to the Thai museum that has one of the Tora Tora Tora Kate Replicas. Does anybody have an ID or N-Number for this bird?

http://thaiaviation.com/gallery2/v/Tang ... 1.jpg.html

She looks a bit odd to me and I'm wondering if it is one of the Tora Kates built in Japan. The engine cowling looks to be longer, the exhaust certainly is and there is no fake cowl flaps. In addition, it has air vents cut in vertically on each side in the accessory area similar to the Tora Zekes. I don't think any of the US built Kates ha those vents.
It could've bee modified after the filming, and a new engine installed, but there is something about this bird that doesn't look like all the other Tora Kates I've seen.
Anybody got any info?
Thanks.
Jerry

Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:50 pm

N-1254 S/N20439 owned by John Maney in California. One of the cockpit photos has the N-number in it.

Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:27 pm

Is it N1254 or N1264?
bill word

Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:31 pm

It just looks different with out the torpedo underneath.

Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:33 pm

It looks 1254 not 100 percent sure now. Click on the link above go to go to second prevois picture, click on the picture to enlarge.

Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:32 am

Wow!
I missed the N-number on the panel!
I knew somebody outthere could ID this one pretty quickly.
Anybody know when it was sold and shipped to Thailand and if they still fly it?
Jerry

Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:32 am

Jerry,

I've reserched the "Tora" conversions extensively,
although there are still some holes and gapping ones at that.
But I believe the Kate owned by the Tango Squadron is this:
Type: CCF Harvard Mk. 4
msn: CCF4-20
s/n: RCAF 20229
reg.: N1264
tail no. AI-315

I think it flew in "Pearl Harbor" (2001) but would have to double
check my other files.

The warbird registry will tell you some more.

regards,
Simon Beck
Hollywood Aviation Fan

Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:39 am

Jerry,

Googled around a bit and found that Tango Squadron purchased
N1264 in 1998 but I'm not sure who from?
Probably wasn't used in pearl Harbor since its been in Thailand
since then?

Cheers
Simon