Harada collection new Zero taking shape....

[warbird1]

What is the background on these planes, I have not heard of them? Are there really more airworthy Zeroes with original engines? If so why aren't they permitted to fly. As for me, I not only would fly a Diemert Zero, very carefully with minimum g force, as long as it had an airworthy certificate. I think it would be a great privilege to fly one of the best handling and most important fighter in history.

Bill, the background on these planes, is that they were recovered from several Pacific islands back in about '75 or so, before the government clamp downs on their export. I believe at least one of them came from Truk, if I'm not mistaken. Harada has been collecting Zero's very quietly for many years now. All of his Zero's have been restored to airworthy condition with running Sakae's. Unfortunately, the Japanese government refuse to allow him to fly the aircraft. As for why, there are lots of theories, but I haven't heard of a definitive reason. One of his airworthy Zero's was recently donated to the Kamikaze museum, where it now sits as a static exhibit.

Bill, I don't think even you would fly a Diemert Zero, if you knew what went into it's restoration. The CAF grounded it's first Zero, the A6M2, after discovering the amount of shoddy workmanship and corrosion that needed to be treated. It was so extensive that it was eventually sold to the Pacific Air Museum as a static out at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Just because an airplane has "correct" paperwork doesn't necessarily mean it is safe to fly.

I think it would be a great privilege to fly one of the best handling and most important fighter in history.

Wow, I can't believe you said that! Are you feeling allright? You said the Zero was the most important fighter in history? That's shocking to hear such blasphemy coming from your mouth! Hahaha! Finally, Bill comes to his senses and admits that radial-engined fighters are better than the Spitfire!

[Curtis Block]

Anyone have contact info for these guys?

Now that I've finished up the research on those PBM wrecks, I was thinking about giving another push on the A5M wreck in the Fujikawa Maru.

I wonder if they might be able to help shed some light on the identity of the particular airframe and why it is there?

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15196&highlight=

[brucev]

can someone fill in details as to who Diemert is and the background on his restorations? i've never heard or long ago forgotten anything about this.

[Bill Greenwood]

Warbird I, perhaps my grammar wasn't perfect, I meant ONE of the most important fighters in history, and it certainly is. Without the Zero the Japanese could not have dominated the air war for the first months or year of the war. They had good dive bombers and torpedo planes, but they would not have survived without Zero fighter cover. And nowhere did I write that any other fighter was better than the best Spitfire.

As for who he was or is? Bob Diemert is a Canadian pilot and farmer who retrieved? and restored a Zero years ago to flying status. The workmanship was not going to win any prizes at Oskosh, except maybe most creative use of auto parts and Ace hardware, but let's give the guy his due. He made a flying Zero when there was only one other in the world. The CAF acquired the plane and it flew, it even did not break and/or crash as for as I know.

As for as me flying it, if Lefty or Randy Wilson can do it, I think I could also. Sure it is marginal on safety, it doesn't look like it came from Ray or Nelson, but I have so much respect and admiration for the Zero, not only for its history, but also for its reputed nimble and easy handling. I wouldn't take a passenger or fly over town, but just for myself, I'd take the risk if it passed an a&p inspection.

Last edited by Bill Greenwood on Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Kaigun Fan]

Hello,

Mr. Harada's Zero fighters were restored to near airworthy but sadly there is too much red tape in Japan to fly them again. His Sakae engine has already ran on the test stand as well. Very cool.

While in Japan, I met Harada-san several times and he is a super nice chap and loves his WW II aircraft.

I believe he hopes to open an aircraft museum in Tokyo with his rare warbirds and WW II artifacts one day.

Ron W.
www.beyondpearlharbor.com

[Kyleb]

I saw enough pop rivets in the deimert zero back when to last me a lifetime.I still shake my head when I think about it.What is really scary about the whole affair was that some screwball flew it in that configuration.

You wouldn't fly a Zero with auto parts, PVC piping and a B-25 QEC for a powerplant, what's wrong with you?

Sounds like your talking about the Val. You forgot angle iron reinforced spar caps and hardware store 3" long screws every foot to hold the angle iron in place.
Long Live the Defender!
Rich

One of Diemert's Zero's had this as well. It only flew once though. It is now at Pensacola after a "re-restoration".

And what a horrible "Zero" that is/was. It's been a few years, but i distinctly remember huge bulges between the wing root and fuselage on that aircraft. I never could figure out what the heck was up with that. Certainly no real Zero had anything like that. It was bad enough that I was surprised that the Navy put it on display.

[Warbird Kid]

Of course the Navy wanted an example of a Zero. So they can show what was being shot down by the rest of there WWII fighter collection.

[Matt Gunsch]

I saw enough pop rivets in the deimert zero back when to last me a lifetime.I still shake my head when I think about it.What is really scary about the whole affair was that some screwball flew it in that configuration.

You wouldn't fly a Zero with auto parts, PVC piping and a B-25 QEC for a powerplant, what's wrong with you?

You forgot about the F-86 drop tanks that were bolted on for fuel tanks

[Dan K]

Of course the Navy wanted an example of a Zero. So they can show what was being shot down by the rest of there WWII fighter collection.

But what a thrill it would be if 100-150 years from now archaeologists could dive on that same A6M in its underwater environment...


(Dan running for tin hat and trench)

[Warbird Kid]

Haha.

But what about FL. and other coastline states getting either partially or completely submerged underwater when the glaciers melt?

Is this what you were going for?

[warbird1]

Hello,

Mr. Harada's Zero fighters were restored to near airworthy but sadly there is too much red tape in Japan to fly them again. His Sakae engine has already ran on the test stand as well. Very cool.

While in Japan, I met Harada-san several times and he is a super nice chap and loves his WW II aircraft.

I believe he hopes to open an aircraft museum in Tokyo with his rare warbirds and WW II artifacts one day.

Ron W.
www.beyondpearlharbor.com

Ron, have you ever suggested or asked Harada-san about the possibility of registering his Zero in another country, perhaps basing them there and just "rotating" them into and out of Japan for special occasions, in order to get around the red tape? I'm not familiar with the airworthy/registration requirements of other Asian countries, but what about registering them in Taiwan, China, Korea, Viet Nam, etc. Surely, there has to be a way around this? Worst case scenario, he could register them here in the U.S. I don't think there would be any real museum in the States that would turn down an opportunity to house and show a REAL flyable Zero with running Sakae engine on it's premises.

Just a thought, and curious to know if Harada-san has ever thought about that idea.

[warbird1]

And what a horrible "Zero" that is/was. It's been a few years, but i distinctly remember huge bulges between the wing root and fuselage on that aircraft. I never could figure out what the heck was up with that. Certainly no real Zero had anything like that. It was bad enough that I was surprised that the Navy put it on display.

The Navy didn't just put it on display as it was restored by Diemert. They sent it to Black Shadow aviation where it was completely "re-restored" up to Navy standards (whatever that is).

[warbird1]

Of course the Navy wanted an example of a Zero. So they can show what was being shot down by the rest of there WWII fighter collection.

But what a thrill it would be if 100-150 years from now archaeologists could dive on that same A6M in its underwater environment...


(Dan running for tin hat and trench)

Yes, it would be a HUGE thrill to dive somewhere hundreds of years from now and know that a handful of silt in the form of Aluminum oxide used to be a Zero. How exciting, the prospect of that will surely inspire many more archaeologists in the future!

[Kyleb]

And what a horrible "Zero" that is/was. It's been a few years, but i distinctly remember huge bulges between the wing root and fuselage on that aircraft. I never could figure out what the heck was up with that. Certainly no real Zero had anything like that. It was bad enough that I was surprised that the Navy put it on display.

The Navy didn't just put it on display as it was restored by Diemert. They sent it to Black Shadow aviation where it was completely "re-restored" up to Navy standards (whatever that is).

When I saw it it was on display in Pensacola and the non-standard wingroot bulges were there for all the world to see. It was as if someone had faired over a football lodged at the intersection of the wing and fuselage at the maximum thickness point of the wing. Very odd.

[Dan K]

Yes, it would be a HUGE thrill to dive somewhere hundreds of years from now and know that a handful of silt in the form of Aluminum oxide used to be a Zero. How exciting, the prospect of that will surely inspire many more archaeologists in the future!

You got it.

Today's NHC: Why recover today what can be put off 'til tomorrow.