The aircraft had been at Precision Aerospace since at least 2004, undergoing restoration to fly. Back in 2008, it was reported by Philip Makanna that there were four different Ki-61 airframes at Precision, with the most complete example being Kermit Weeks', which was being used as a "blue print"/guide to help in the restoration of Yagen's aircraft and the others (it was said at the time, that among the four airframes, two would be flyers (Yagen/Weeks), one would be restored to static, and another which didn't have a client/buyer at the time). It was said that Yagen's Tony would be the first to be completed/flown and would be powered by an original (then recently found) Ha-40, the variant of the DB601 built under license by Kawasaki. The wings for Kermit Weeks' Ki-61 have actually been in storage at Fantasy of Flight in Florida, so I don't know if that project actually will be going any further once Yagen's is completed.
I know HARS has at least a couple Tony projects as well, and they have this Ha-40 engine that used to be at Precision:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38049473@N00/356832932/ (among reportedly other surviving Ha-40's they have) and they too say that they will have an Ha-40 engine powering their flying Ki-61 restoration.
http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-res ... kshop.htmlKawasaki, in Japan, has a very impressive, complete, Ki-61 on display (recently re-finished), as well as a very complete and well preserved Ha-40 engine on display:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dwv4gLPdhJg/ ... rminal.jpghttps://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/or ... 8888dc.jpgMaybe when this project is completed, Yagen will also be inspired to have his Oscar reproduction finished/flying as well? Also I'm really looking forward to seeing Yagen's P-39 completed at Pioneer Aero (just across from Avspecs), where it has been for the past couple years or so - it too was at Precision, undergoing restoration to fly, for what seemed like an eternity. From what I recall, Yagen has Pioneer working on it as a priority project to get completed/flying ASAP, and Pioneer will turn their attentions to his Kingfisher after the P-39 is finished.
With various projects leaving Precision, I wonder where that leaves Yagen's and Kermit Weeks' Corsair projects, or if they'll be remaining at Precision. I know Yagen has/had an F4U-1D and FG-1A projects said to be at Precision, and Kermit Weeks has had the center section for his FG-1D at Precision.