CAF Zero in Route New Zealand?

[Dan Newcomb]

It is my understanding that our Zero will be shipped to New Zealand next month to participate in an air show. We will send a crew and will fly an aerobatic routine. The Zeke will be back in the States in April. I will keep you posted.

Dan

[Dragonflydh90]

I guess that would be the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow then. The dates if this is the case are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th April Easter Weekend.

That would be very nice to see.

[Chris]

Hey, I'm a member of the Arizona Wing and I'll be there too.

[Django]

Is that the show that had the "live fire" P-40? Better be careful...

[Zac Yates]

This is great news! For months the Warbirds Over Wanaka organisers have been pushing the idea that a "mystery overseas aircraft not seen here before" was being secured for the show and would feature on the poster. As yet, nothing official has surfaced.

Thank-you Dan for posting, perhaps I'll have to get friendly with the crew so I can get up close and personal come Easter!

[Warbird Kid]

Thats cool to hear!! Im sure this will be awesome exposure for the CAF. Maybe they'll reconsider selling off all their Axis aircraft, or what's left of them.

[Dan Newcomb]

Just a quick update.

Preparation continues on the Zero. It was discovered that the gear spread was too wide for the flatbed so we had to fabricate a cradle for the mains to sit in to allow safe transport to the docks in Long Beach where she will be place aboard ship. All is on schedule.

Dan

[mustangdriver]

Dan,
How hard is it to ship? Will it have to be taken apart at all, or can they ship it as is? That is cool.

[jtramo]

This sounds expensive. Might I ask why? No sarcasm, just wondering.

[Dan Newcomb]

The Zero will be lowered into the cargo hold below decks. The only thing we will do is fold the wing tips. When the contract was negotiated we insisted on no disassembly. The air show people pay all transportation costs.

Regarding the question as to why. Can you be a little more specific?

Dan

[hang the expense]

A zero has the factory break aft of the wing which would have made transport so much easier.Did they ship it from midland to longbeach?Will be cool for NZ to have the show with a zero flying.Should be the first since the war would be my guess.

[Zac Yates]

Will be cool for NZ to have the show with a zero flying.Should be the first since the war would be my guess.

That's right! NZ has only ever seen one Zero flight before - a captured machine in 1945. It flew once in NZ skies before being retired and eventually put on display at the Auckland War Memorial. When the SOCALCAF machine makes its first flight here, it will be the second Zero flight ever in this country.

[M.P.]

New Zealanders can make a preview here:
http://www.clipwings.com/index.php?comm ... deo_id=862

[Dan Newcomb]

A zero has the factory break aft of the wing which would have made transport so much easier.Did they ship it from midland to longbeach?Will be cool for NZ to have the show with a zero flying.Should be the first since the war would be my guess.

The Zero is based at Camarillo not Midland. This is the second Zero we have dealt with at our wing and believe me it is much better to avoid disassembly if possible.

[Dan Newcomb]

New Zealanders can make a preview here:
http://www.clipwings.com/index.php?comm ... deo_id=862

What a cool video! Jason in the Zeke and Steve in the Cat. I have worked many hours on both planes and see them fly often and each time they fly I still get a thrill.

Dan