Zekes!!

[Ollie]

Hey buddies!

Me and Dan have been wondering how many Zeros are flyable.

This is what we came up with :

PoF x 2

MoF

CAF (even if it's in parts, it used to fly)

Beck's

Any more?

Also, how many have the Sakae engine?

[dj51d]

I must have mistaken the MOF bird for another airworthy POF machine. I thought they had 3 airworthy for thar Pearl Harbor "movie"?

[DazDaMan]

I e-mailed Steve Hinton a year or so ago about this, and he confirmed they did have three. One from Planes of Fame, but the other two I can't recall.

[Chad Veich]

There were three flying for the Pearl Harbor movie including the PoF airplane, the MoF airplane, and a third identified as being owned by a "Los Angelas businesman". There was a pic of it in Air Classics sans paint and it was also re-engined similar to the CAF and MoF airplanes. PoF also have the FHC machine which is to be converted to a two seater. I don't think the FHC airplane has ever been completed so it must not be the same airplane as above.

[JohnH]

Wasn't the third owned by Flight Magic, Alan Preston's company? (The same company that had those Yaks built up in Russia)

John

[bdk]

There were three flying for the Pearl Harbor movie including the PoF airplane, the MoF airplane, and a third identified as being owned by a "Los Angelas businesman". There was a pic of it in Air Classics sans paint and it was also re-engined similar to the CAF and MoF airplanes. PoF also have the FHC machine which is to be converted to a two seater. I don't think the FHC airplane has ever been completed so it must not be the same airplane as above.

Yikes! You're giving me a headache!

The FHC Zero is already a two seater and has yet to have an engine installed. The CAF machine is (or was) Price's...

"Mitsubishi A6M3 "Zero" Japanese Fighter - Serial No. 3869; Reg. No. NX712Z.
This plane was found on New Guinea (now Indonesia), near the town of Babo. It was restored partly in Russia, and partly in the U.S. It comes to us from The Museum of Flying in Santa Monica. This marvelous warbird is also owned by David Price.
We hope that the Zero will be a long-term visitor. It is one of only three flying Zeros in the world. Over 10,000 were built by Japan."

http://www.orgsites.com/ca/caf-socal/

And of course the MoF machine is Price's as well. And the FHC two seater was another of the 3 that Price had (the airframes) restored in Russia...

1. AIR MUSEUM ZERO SN 82020 N46770 Flyable
2. Diemert/CAF A6M2-21 SN 807 N58245 (flown but now disassembled)
3. LGT AVIATION INC A6M3ZERO SN 3858 N553TT (Price?) Flyable
4. CAF/Price LIBERTY AERO CORPORATION A6M3ZERO SN 3869 N712Z Flyable
VULCAN WARBIRDS INC A6M3ZERO SN 3852 N3852 (I suspect this is the one in Chino)
VULCAN WARBIRDS INC A6M5-52 SN 4400 N652Z
VULCAN WARBIRDS INC A6M5-52 SN 1303 N1303
GRIGGERS, KEAT E TYPE ZERO SN 4461 N62175 (??? revoked registration)

And this one does not appear to have a registration number assigned yet:

http://www.fargoairmuseum.org/historic-aircraft-a6m2-type-21-zero-6544.html

[dj51d]

The Fargo Zero is N8280K. The FAA lists it as a Nakajima A6M2 Model 21. The FAA lists the SN as 1498, however, the Fargo Air Museum lists it as SN 6544. The last time I heard, they were just waiting on insurance paperwork before the first flight.

More photos here

[Chad Veich]

Sorry bdk, got a bit carried away with the acronyms I guess! I was aware that David Price had some sort of deal with the CAF involving the ex-Deimert Zero and Hellcat but never read that he owned them outright. And what of the other, non-flying airframe owned by PoF, is that now one of the Vulcan aircraft?

[Alan Brooks]

During the mid 90's the CAF/Deimert Zero was placed for sale. David Price bought the airplane (still flying at that time) and gifted the airplane back to the CAF. Very, very generous of Mr Price. In addition, he signed on as sponsor of the Hellcat. This airplane has, since its acquisition from John Sandberg, always been a CAF airplane. Toward the end of a very long restoration by Ken Shugart at Joe Mabee's ranch in Midland, Mr Price became a co-sponsor of the airplane. Part of the arrangement allowed the Hellcat to spend quite a bit of time at Santa Monica on display. I believe the Zero also spent time at Santa Monica, but cannot confirm. Anyone else with details from the Museum of Flying? Brandon? Chad?
As detailed on the "CAF Adds a Spitfire" post, we were actively seeking to purchase three of Mr Price's fighters, but have only purchased the Spit. With the Huri now sold, we are working on adding the Zero, which the So Cal Wing is actively flying on the show circuit this year. Look for the plane at the BIG CAF Hq bash in Midland. Oct 2-3. TIA, Alan

[bdk]

During the mid 90's the CAF/Deimert Zero was placed for sale. David Price bought the airplane (still flying at that time) and gifted the airplane back to the CAF. Very, very generous of Mr Price. I believe the Zero also spent time at Santa Monica, but cannot confirm. Anyone else with details from the Museum of Flying? Brandon? Chad?

I am not aware that the ex-Diemert Zero was ever on display in Santa Monica.

It was my understanding that the ex-Diemert Zero was only transiting through Camarillo whan a problem was found- now it has been grounded and under rebuild there for years. Does anyone have any info on the nature of the problem (not that there weren't many in the workmanship department, but it aparently had made it through a bunch of annual inspections prior to that point)?

BK

[Alan Brooks]

Problems with the wing spars....my understanding is corrosion. To the best of my knowledge, the wing spar & caps were original. Stringers, ribs, etc...... I do not know.... I saw some pics years ago when Diemert was quote "rebuilding the plane". I don't remember any skins on the wing at that time.... I'll see if I can go back look them up..... However, when the So Cal guys really started looking at the airplane, lets just say "HORROR" came to mind. Skins with rivets, riveted to nothing! That was just one of the many highlights discovered. The wing has received bids on the airplane for rebuilding the wing, and returning the Zero to the air. Just takes a few more dollars..... remember all it takes to make em fly is airspeed and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.... lol, but true.... Alan

[Chad Veich]

So is it the CAF's intention to operate both Zeros (assuming they can purchase the Price airplane) or will the Diemert airplane then be sold off?

[Alan Brooks]

Hello Chad. To the best information that I have been able to squeeze out of a couple of the General Staff members, the answer is yes. Both Zero's will continue to fly. Possible trade bait later? Who knows, but if an A-20, B-26 Maruader, or He-111 became available........... Alan

[bdk]

Problems with the wing spars....my understanding is corrosion. To the best of my knowledge, the wing spar & caps were original. Stringers, ribs, etc...... I do not know.... I saw some pics years ago when Diemert was quote "rebuilding the plane". I don't remember any skins on the wing at that time....

The Chino Val was the same way. There was a piece of electrical conduit spliced into the elevator pushrod. Most of the wing fold brackets were seriously pitted and had to be remade from scratch, and the horizontal stabilizer was a poorly stretched T-6 part. Lots of snowman holes, pop rivets, etc.

I had a copy of "The Defender" and remember a scene of the ailerons being moved on the CAF Zero with the skins off of the wings.

Look at it this way, Diemert's restoration reused a lot of original parts- airworthy or not!