Fagen Fighters A6M3 is completed.

[Randy Wilson]

Hi Dan - without going into details here, after an annual inspection, basically the Zero was found to need a very substantial sponsorship to return it to airworthy flight and that did not appear after a fairly lengthy attempt to find it. Funds from its sale went into an account to help acquire new aircraft for the CAF. Hope that helps.

Randy

[Dan Jones]

I remember reading some years ago that when another outfit looked at restoring a Zero from some of the leftovers, a major aluminum manufacturer looked at some samples of the Japanese aluminum and determined that it was basically a fairly primitive version of 7075, and recommended that due to deterioration of the metal, to not even think about flying any of the original aluminum. Even real 7075 ages poorly. I'm sure it would have been a very expensive project to undertake.

[Spitty]

Seeing very very few original drawings exist at all for the zero having "anything" in the air is an achievement.

Not meaning to sound negative but have you ever seen the Film Board of Canada documentary "The Defender"? In the part of the video where an A6M2 was being "reconstructed" for the CAF, you will see that some sort of blueprint/plans were available. I have a history with that plane. You can find the video on YouTube. Don't laugh too hard! All the best.

Randy

Hey Randy,yes Ive forgotten about that doco..Was a bit of an eye opener..
Taizo with his restoration work was other person who I saw had original plans.
With the 7075 aluminium it was mostly in the wing that it was used off memory.Rest was 2024 with a lot more lightening holes.Off memory 7075 suffers from intergranular corrosion a lot worse than 2024.Something to do with its heat treatment.Been too many years off the books.

[OD/NG]

Seeing very very few original drawings exist at all for the zero having "anything" in the air is an achievement.

FYI, there are lots of original drawings/blueprints for at least 1 Zero variant, the A6M3/Model 22 that exist. I know this because I saw them first hand in person. Back in the very early 90's, I was lucky enough to get a tour and meet with Bruce Lockwood at the now defunct Santa Monica, Museum of Flying (MOF). IIRC, this was within about 6 mos to a year or so from when the huge Japanese aircraft cache was returned from Babo island (1991?) I saw the drawings and talked to Bruce about this very subject of documentation/surviving blueprints/drawings. He told me that with the documentation, any number of exact replicas could be built, provided an American engine powered them. He said that all it took was money to make it happen. And Bruce, along with Flight Magic, made it happen, but the documentation definitely existed at that time. They built 3 replicas in Russia - all of which flew after restoration. Given the "shadiness" of that deal with the Russians and the Tony which disappeared forever, I don't know where the plans exist today or if anybody made copies of them. Bruce, AFAIK, is still alive, so he could probably point anyone interested in the current whereabouts of the blueprints.

Also, I do know that Legend Flyers has at least some blueprints. Here are a few examples taken from their facebook page. Of course, their Zero is a Model 32, and not 22:

[Warbird Kid]

They built 3 replicas in Russia - all of which flew after restoration. Given the "shadiness" of that deal with the Russians and the Tony which disappeared forever, I don't know where the plans exist today or if anybody made copies of them.

What was the deal and what "shadiness" was there? Curious to know more about how these three Zeros came about. There was a Tony involved too?

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Apr 05, 2022 2:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[old iron]

There was a Tony involved too?

Yea, I want to hear about this too...

[OD/NG]

There was a Tony involved too?

Yea, I want to hear about this too...

Yes, and I saw the Tony before it went to Russia and "disappeared". I don't know where it is today or even it if still exists.

There are others more informed than me about the Russian Zero deal. Needless to say, principles that I've talked to can say more about it here if that is their wish.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Key words here are "Retaining only the landing gear from the wreck

According to Wikipedia's main Zero article, this airplane used "only a small fraction of parts from the main landing gear" in order to be considered a restoration rather than a reproduction.

[JohnH]

That Tony was at SMO in 1991 and at their auction in Oct 91. I wondered what happened to it . Going to ask.

[Dan Jones]

I have the issue of Air Classics here somewhere that tells the story. I guess I know what I'm doing tonight... lol

[Dan K]

That Tony was at SMO in 1991 and at their auction in Oct 91. I wondered what happened to it . Going to ask.

Pics and status in 2008:

https://eflyer.barnstormers.com/2008/01 ... sures.html

[bdk]

Was this the one Frank Taylor had in Chino? I thought that one was in better condition and was displayed on the gear. I thought that one went Downunder for restoration. Maybe I'm confused or this is another one. I remember there was one engine with the project that was in pretty nice condition.

[Dan Jones]

I think this Tony, along with three (?) Zeros and the Judy that the POF now has all came off of some island in Indonesia, salvaged by a guy named Bruce Fenstermaker in about 1990. There might have been some large pieces of Betty, too. I think the Tony that bdk is thinking of either went to Yagen or Weeks and was definitely in better shape.

[OD/NG]

That Tony was at SMO in 1991 and at their auction in Oct 91. I wondered what happened to it . Going to ask.

Pics and status in 2008:

https://eflyer.barnstormers.com/2008/01 ... sures.html

Ah, thanks for that! It looks like the one I saw at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying in '91 or '92. I think we may have found its current location!

[OD/NG]

Was this the one Frank Taylor had in Chino? I thought that one was in better condition and was displayed on the gear. I thought that one went Downunder for restoration. Maybe I'm confused or this is another one. I remember there was one engine with the project that was in pretty nice condition.

No, that one ended up with Kermit Weeks, and he is still the owner. IIRC, Kermit had info on his blog/website/twitter that either that Tony's fuselage or wings (can't remember which) were being used as a pattern to facilitate the restoration of Yagen's Tony. In other words, Kermit's Tony (ex-Frank Taylor) is still not being restored.