P51 rebuild in Japan?

[HarvardIV]

Hi

I've seen this guy on Barnstormers for years, looks like he's building up a P-51 in Japan.

LOOKING FOR P-51D MUSTANG COCKPIT PARTS • WANTED • I'm looking for 106-52505 Trim Control Panel, SCR695 IFF Panel and other P-51D cockpit panel. • Contact Nobuhiro Okada - located Naritashi Chiba, Japan • Telephone: +81-476-29-3440 • Fax: +81-476-29-3440 • Posted May 3, 2005 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Send a Message

[Jack Cook]

Sounds more like he's making a cockpit display.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Japanese Gov't doesn't allow
airworthy warbirds any-ho.

[mrhenniger]

About 6-9 months ago there was a thread on WIX discussing the efforts of some guy in Japan to restored a P-51. I think this this for real.

Mike

[airnutz]

If Jack is right and Mike is right, then maybe the guy is building a static display?

[bdk]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Japanese Gov't doesn't allow airworthy warbirds any-ho.

POF has flown their Zero over there a few times, and in formation with their Mustang last time I believe.

[gregv]

Sounds more like he's making a cockpit display.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Japanese Gov't doesn't allow
airworthy warbirds any-ho.

from what I have read, it would seem that Mr. Harada would fly at least one of his Zero's (the A6M5), if it weren't for a lack of Sakae engine parts (specifically cylinder heads). I could have misconstrued the articles, though.

cheers

gv

[Kaigun Fan]

Hello,

I never heard about this P-51 while in Japan but have seen lots of his ads looking for parts.

As for Harada, his A6M2 could easily be made airworthy with the original Sakae radial engine (which is rebuilt/running) but the Japanese government would never give permission to fly her without major modifications to the airframe, etc. (like a newer plane). This is what I heard right from Harada.

Regards,

RW

[HarvardIV]

Hi Kaigun Fan:

The Japanese gov't sounds pretty dumb saying that! The Zero airframe was designed to withstand 8 g's with a safety factor of 1.8. In other words it could handle 12 g's before failure!

I wonder if Mr. Harada has tried to register his Zero in the U.S., and fly it as a "visitor" to Japan.

[corsair166b]

I was in the hobby shop the other day when I came across a 2 plane kit....and on the box cover it showed a pic of the A6M5 and the P-51D from Chino flying in Japan!! Kinda cool, remember the event from the early 90's in the papers, but now immortalized on a model kit box? VERY cool!

Mark

[bdk]

I was in the hobby shop the other day when I came across a 2 plane kit....and on the box cover it showed a pic of the A6M5 and the P-51D from Chino flying in Japan!!

I think they were supposed to repeat this event in 2001 but were overcome by events.