Warbird Information Exchange

Any idea what was being used? Can't imagine it was an original Nakajima NK9K-S Homare engine.


Japanese Air Force Nakajima Ki84 Gale at Ontario (1970).


Nakajima NK9K-S Homare air-cooled twin-row 18 cylinder radial Japanese aircraft engine, Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, AZ

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Captured Japanese Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate--1 of 3 Survivors at the time.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Pretty sure it was the original engine.

I think bdk is correct that the engine is original. This Ki-84 was a "war prize" and shipped back to the US intact on the deck of the USS Long Island. This photo is from "War Prizes" by Phil Butler and the text says that it was declared surplus in 1952 and sold to the Ontario Air Museum at Clarement, California. In April 1963 it went to AiResearch in LA for restoration to flying condition. It was registered as N3385G for the flights and remained with the museum when it moved to Chino. It says it was sold to the Kyoto-Arashiyama Museum in Japan but doesn't give a date. Hope that helps.

Randy

Here is an image of the Ki-84 before its transfer to the above mentioned museum in Japan and a link to the source which has images of the plane on display in the museum. The rather distinctive exhaust arrangement looks like that of the original engine. Randy

http://silverhawkauthor.com/warplanes-of-the-second-world-war-preserved-in-japan_640.html You will need to scroll down a ways.

Thx as always Randy ...

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

thanks for posting

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Better is the enemy of Good.

The POF Raiden also has an original Homare. They used to fly it until they decided it was too risky with such a rare bird. Their Zeke has an original Sakae and they still fly it. Luckily there are quite a few surviving Zero airframes so rarity is not a problem.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Good stuff on a rare type. Glad POF does not fly the Raiden, I think single survivors and ultra rare types (1-@3) should not be flown.

POF Raiden has never flown under their ownership that I have ever heard. Would love to see documentation on that.

I think the "3" above is the number that came to the US from Japan after the war. See pages 179, 240 and 255 in Phil Butler's "War Prizes" book. Only the one (pg 179) survives. Of the Mitsubishi J2M3 "Jack" only one survives as well, and remains at PoF.

I agree, a flying Zero with original engine is rare but not irreplaceable, but the Frank and Jack should not be flown. I would also think that a flying Jack would not bring in enough paying gate to warrant the financial costs.

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Kevin McCartney

Pretty certain bdk is correct. From what I have heard the Raiden is so corroded internally that PoF do not even allow their personnel to stand on the aircraft for fear of it collapsing.

Youz guys are right, I remembered wrong...probably due to several discussions of the pros and cons of making it fly. They used to taxi the Raiden, but it does have an original Homare. IIRC the Raiden got off into the soft or ground looped and damaged one of the gear legs?

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

I don't ever recall seeing, hearing or read of the Jack moving under it's own power while with POF. I believe the Zero was ground looped/damaged back in the late 70's - early 80's.

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Japan-A ... Aa/WLaQ%3D

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