Real Zero vs. Russian Zero

[mike furline]

This might be a tough one to answer but, is there any difference in flight characteristics/feel between the POF real Zero and the Russian built/new build Zero's?

How many new build Zero's are out there?

Regards,
Mike

[Mike]

Other than the PoF one, whose originality is in no doubt, there are the three 'Flight Magic' ones (re)built in Russia, plus the Gerry Beck Tri-State / Blayd Corporation one (re)built from the left-over bits from Bob Diemart's rebuild. And then there's the Diemart one itself, which the CAF have been trying to sell on for some time.

As far as these ones go, we can get into endless circular arguments as to whether they're real or replica, or we can just enjoy them for what they are.......

[Eureka181]

The POF Zero is an A6M5 and the Flight Magic Zeros are A6M3 and the Gerry Beck Tri-State / Blayd Corporation is an A6M2. There are differences between each model and the comparisons would only be comparing the differences of each model. If one had a flying restoration of a A6M5 than they could compare it to the POF A6M5.

And the Flight Magic Zeros are not completetly new built. They have a fair amount of original Japanese parts in them, or at least the first two. I suggest reading the article in the Nov/Dec 2005 Warbirds International. Bruce Lockwood, who headed up the Flight Magic Zero project, wrote a great article on the Zeros and how they were restored and how they fly. Good pictures of him flying his A6M3. Those Zeros are the real deal.

Other than that I suggest talking to Steve Hinton. He has flown the A6M5 and A6M3.

Eric

EDIT: I believe the POF Zero's Sakae is 1300 HP. The original Sakae 21 on the A6M3 was a 1130 HP, but in the Flight Magic A6M3's a 1250 HP R-1830 was built up for 3869 and 3858.

Last edited by Eureka181 on Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[corsair166b]

....and only the A6M5 carries the original Sakae engine, a bit more powerful I believe than the P & W 1830.

m

[shoki]

Not sure about the R-1830 but the Sakae had only 1130 horsepower at takeoff. I think the R-1830 engined aircraft have slightly better performance.