Who Knows Tora Birds?

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:51 am

Has anyone out there managed to keep track of all of the Tora airframes? I watched 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' again not to long ago and I had forgotten just how many airframes had been converted for filming. I think I counted over 20 planes flying together in formation over the ocean, all in a single frame. There was a LOT of these planes converted!

Anyway, looking at the photos from the Rocky Mountain Airshow and seeing how well maintained some of these old conversion birds are, it just got me wondering. Certainly someone has managed to accummulate a database accounting for the current dispositions/demise/etc for each of these unique aircraft. I'd love to see a comprehensive listing!

I also remember seeing photos not long ago of at least one Tora Zero (I believe) that was sitting somewhere looking much the worse for wear. How many Tora birds are rotting away somewhere damaged or abandoned waiting for someone to work some magic and bring them back from the brink?

Who knows Tora birds?

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

Hey Rob,

I have a book about the Tora Group and their aircraft, but I know the Vals the best because I did a story on Ken Laird's aircraft. Let me check my notes and get back to you, I'll email it to you.

Now let's see, where's my chainsaw? Irene knocked down a lot of branches, including one big one.

Chappie

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

Mike H put together a great spread sheet. It can be found on the WRG/WIX main page. I'm on my phone so I can't post a direct link. Let me know if you can't find it.

Ztex · **Posted:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:31 pm

For the best info I have found...
Look at this page...

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... loads.html

and download this file...

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... a/tora.xls

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:43 pm

I have asked Scott a number of times via email to take down the WIX version of the Tora list. Even though it has been a while since I have last actively done any editing on the list the latest version can be found here...

Aerial Visuals - Tora List via this Link

I am working on a new feature for my site which will allow people like the WIX enthusiasts to create likes, like lists for the Tora birds, based on the data in the Airframes Database. The lists will then be automatically updated as fresh data is imported weekly. I ill then not need to worry about the old Excel list, which is static, becoming outdated as time goes on. This new list building tool will allow people to check out lists and add to them like a Wiki, and the intent will be to use it as a collaborative tool for the benefit of the greater enthuiast community. I am working on it right now. Reno will have me distracted for a while. I expect that I will bring it online some time in October. Perhaps then we could all build a Catch 22 list or something similar as a trial project.

Mike

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:00 pm

An interesting person I met at the NAS New Orleans air show in October '91 (IIRC), when Ray Harper and I flew the CAF Kate 310 there for the show, said he was the second Aeronautical Engineer who worked on the conversion. He said when he took over the project, the previous guy had the torpedos being made of plaster of paris! He said he didn't see the need for that weight, and in fact wasn't sure the plane could carry it, so he had the crew change over to fiberglass.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:29 pm

Now that is probably one of the most Brilliant engineering decisions ever made!

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:09 pm

If someone wanted to take an AT6/SNJ/Harvard or BT-13/15 project today and create a new Tora Zero, Kate, or Val, are the plans out there to do such a conversion as they did back during the making of Tora Tora Tora? And for that matter, what further modifications did some of the aircraft go under afterwards for more recent film/TV work? I heard somewhere that the replica Zeros used in Empire of the Sun had some additional modifications. True? Not True? Comments?

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:04 pm

Don't think the friendly aviation admen would take to kindly to a project like that nowdays. Paperwork would have to run in the tons.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:04 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:

Don't think the friendly aviation admen would take to kindly to a project like that nowdays. Paperwork would have to run in the tons.

Really? I thought this wouldnt be that big of a problem since it seems that the conversions seem to have been safe given the track record of the majority of the Tora fleet since 69. Couldnt you call it a post war saftey modification? :wink:

Keep in mind Im no A&P Mech or Pilot...........yet.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:24 pm

I don't think the "Empire of the Sun" Zeroes were Tora conversions. IIRC the airfield scenes were filmed in Spain, and the T-6s didn't have as extensive mods at the Tora aircraft, retaining the standard T-6 windscreen and forward canopy section. The Tora Zeroes had entirely new canopies with modified decking forward of the cockpit, fake cowl flaps, and the "bump" for the wheel was faired over to make a straight leading edge.

Here's a link showing some behind-the-scenes pics on the set of "Empire of the Sun," including closeups of the Zero conversions (the account won't allow the pics to be downloaded.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nigelblake ... 66/detail/

I have seen a couple of T-6s at airshows over the years that I believe were converted to Zero replicas by private owners, and didn't have as extensive mods as the actual Tora aircraft.

SN

Warbird Information Exchange

Who Knows Tora Birds?

Who is online