Flying Zeros

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:22 pm

In the current issue of Warbird Digest there is a photo of 3 out of the world's population of 5 flyable Zeros in formation.The Zeros are the CAF's, the Planes of Fame's and the other belongs to an organization called Zero Enterprise Inc.,Trustee's. My question is two fold, where are the other 2 flyable Zeros and where is this Zero Enterprise Inc located at? Thanks

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:26 pm

Hey Pat, the other two are the Flying Heritage Collection's example, and the Texas Flying Legend's example (the former Blayd/Beck example).

http://flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane ... ntentId=16

http://www.flyingfreedom.us/last-samurai-zero

Up to the point of the Chino air show this past spring, the Zero Enterprise example was being hangared at Camarillo, CA, but shortly there after the aircraft, as planned, was flown up to Anchorage, Alaska, where it now calls home. That same Zero used to often be referred to as the "Mojave Zero", for the location it used to be based at for a number of years.

old iron · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:04 am

How many of these are flying with Japanese engines?

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:50 am

old iron wrote:

How many of these are flying with Japanese engines?

The Planes of Fame example was famous as the only only one with the Sake engine; the Flying Heritage example certainly does not have:
http://flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane ... ntentId=16

"Around 1994, three recovered Zeros, including this one, were sent to Russian for restoration.
...
In order to operate dependably, each aircraft was fitted with a specially-modified Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engine. The engines contained a mixture of components in order to be as compact as possible and fit in a standard A6M cowling."

I'm sure others can give more updated info...

Regards,

muddyboots · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:44 am

JohnTerrell wrote:

Hey Pat, the other two are the Flying Heritage Collection's example, and the Texas Flying Legend's example (the former Blayd/Beck example).

http://flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane ... ntentId=16

http://www.flyingfreedom.us/last-samurai-zero

Up to the point of the Chino air show this past spring, the Zero Enterprise example was being hangared at Camarillo, CA, but shortly there after the aircraft, as planned, was flown up to Anchorage, Alaska, where it now calls home. That same Zero used to often be referred to as the "Mojave Zero", for the location it used to be based at for a number of years.

I was so excited to see that one before it moved!

LysanderUK · **Joined:** Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:01 pm **Posts:** 271

As far as I'm aware, the only one flying with the original Sakae engine is the Planes of Fame example, all the others have the P&W mod.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:55 pm

I'm still wondering if the company in Russia would be interested in producing another batch of three Zeros? Or maybe Harada-San from Japan would rebuild a Zero on contract?

Sasquatch · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:56 pm

Whatever happened to the Zero Bob Diemert restored for the CAF a long time ago. Is that one still flying with the CAF?

--Tom

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:04 pm

Sasquatch wrote:

Whatever happened to the Zero Bob Diemert restored for the CAF a long time ago. Is that one still flying with the CAF?

--Tom

Sitting on Ford Island in HI.
Bob Diemert and Restored in the same sentence is stretch.

Sasquatch · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:22 pm

51fixer wrote:

Sasquatch wrote:

Whatever happened to the Zero Bob Diemert restored for the CAF a long time ago. Is that one still flying with the CAF?

Bob Diemert and Restored in the same sentence is stretch.

Thanks Rich; and yes, from what I've read, that may well be true. May also be the times it was "restored" in...way back in the early days, when getting the birds into the air was more important than the sometimes questionable methods employed. Hey, at least he got 'er done ha ha ha!

So when did the CAF let that Zero go in favor of a a newer build? And I'm curious what the reason for that was? Anybody know why they switched Zeros?

Thanks...

--Tom

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:28 pm

Sasquatch wrote:

51fixer wrote:

Sasquatch wrote:

Whatever happened to the Zero Bob Diemert restored for the CAF a long time ago. Is that one still flying with the CAF?

Bob Diemert and Restored in the same sentence is stretch.

Thanks Rich; and yes, from what I've read, that may well be true. May also be the times it was "restored" in...way back in the early days, when getting the birds into the air was more important than the sometimes questionable methods employed. Hey, at least he got 'er done ha ha ha!

So when did the CAF let that Zero go in favor of a a newer build? And I'm curious what the reason for that was? Anybody know why they switched Zeros?

Thanks...

--Tom

Cost to undue what was previously done and/or not done I imagine.
Easiest solution was to sell it as a parked static IIRC.
As a note I have worked on an aircraft he has worked on so my opinion is based on that. But yes I've also seen the movie.

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:03 pm

Evergreen's example will be powered by a Sakae, however a few engine parts are required -anyone got some bits in their garage? :wink:

muddyboots · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:10 pm

There's just something mean looking about that aircraft. Seeing three of them lined up like that is pretty danged cool!

Rick65 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:18 pm

Is there any feedback on how the flying behaviour of the Zero varies with the different engines?
Is the 1830 heavier than the original Sakae?
Great photo on the Classic Wings cover.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:19 pm

Aaaahh, Diemert. Who ever thought you could buy everything you need to restore a warbird at Home Depot?

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