CAF A6M2-21 Zero for Sale

[Eureka181]

The CAF A6M2-21 Zero was just listed on Courtesy Aircraft. It is currently at our Southern California Wing Camarillo facility, which I belong to.

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/

Eric

[MX304]

Oh, man I'll bet that is a hard prize to let go of. Is their a certain aircraft you plan to go after as a "replacement"?

[Eureka181]

Well, from what I know, headquarters made the decision to sell the A6M2 in order to pay for the A6M3. The A6M2 requires some major work to make it airworthy, versus the A6M3, which is in great condition. The A6M3-22 has a low time engine and prop and is an all around better airplane.

We are not going to go after any other planes because we have our PBJ-1J, Fairchild 24R, and SNJ-4 stil being restored. Plus we have our Spitfire Mk XIVe which is having some major maintenance done. We have a lot on our plate.

Eric

[MX304]

Ah ok, sounds like a good plan.

[Eureka181]

Oh, by the way, the A6M3-22 is my avatar.

Eric

[DazDaMan]

I didn't know the CAF had another Zero!

There's something about the Zero that I like, but I can't pin it down!

So how many airowrthy Zeros are out there? I always assumed it was about three.

[airnutz]

The A6M3-22 has a low time engine and prop and is an all around better airplane.Eric

But it doesn't have an original Sakae does it? Does POF still hold that
distinction as far as flyable Zeke's?

[David_Aiken]

Mitsubishi A6M2
Zero・ N58245
$695,000

One of the few remaining Zero's in the world. This example was recovered on Bougainville Island in the Mid 60's. It was shipped to Canada along with several others. Two aircraft were restored; one is now on display at the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola. This example was restored to flying condition and was flown for about 10 years. A recent inspection has indicated the need for major rework required to maintain airworthiness. Some repair work has been started as can be seen by the photos. Repairs are required to a previous wing spar splice.

Engine: Pratt and Whitney, R-1830-94MZ
621 Hrs SMOH

Propeller: Hamilton Standard 23E-50

AVIONICS:
King KX-170B/ KI-208 Indicator
Collins VHF-251 Com
Apollo Loran
Narco AT-150A Transponder
Encoder

PHOTOS AT: http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/

In 1980, I helped Oscar Bailey (a US Navy ACE) who was sponsor of this Zero. In 1990, I again helped with the restoration ...and taped the masking tape for EII-102 on the plane... the 1990 crew chief now lives about 2 miles from me. We are both sad about the demise of the plane due to safety problems.

Cheers,
David Aiken

[Cindy]

But it doesn't have an original Sakae does it? Does POF still hold that
distinction as far as flyable Zeke's?

YES!!!!

[Eureka181]

I didn't know the CAF had another Zero!

There's something about the Zero that I like, but I can't pin it down!

So how many airowrthy Zeros are out there? I always assumed it was about three.

There are two that fly regularly, our A6M3 and the POF A6M5.



And there is the A6M2 in North Dakota that is flown occasionally.

So a total of three flying Zeros.

There was another A6M3-22, cn 3858, that was used in the movie Pearl Harbor but it does not fly any more.

Eric

[Randy Haskin]

WTF are they thinking with how that instrument panel is arranged??

The ADI is in a good spot, but everything else is in a lousy spot for an instrument crosscheck.

[Eureka181]

The A6M3-22 has a low time engine and prop and is an all around better airplane.Eric

But it doesn't have an original Sakae does it? Does POF still hold that
distinction as far as flyable Zeke's?

Our A6M3 Model 22 has a Pratt & Whitney R-1830. Not too many people know this, but the prototype Zekes built in the 1930s had American R-1830s built under license. Then the Japanese decided to built their own version of the R-1830. And the result was the Sakae engine. So basically the R-1830 is the same engine as the Sakae.

I have had the opportunity to confirm this by inspecting a Nakajima Sakae that we had at our museum and comparing it to the R-1830 in our Zero.

Eric

[Oscar Duck]

Not sure about being a PW R-1830 "copy"...

Nakajima Sakae

Nakajima Sakae engine on a Mitsubishi ZeroThe Nakajima Sakae (栄, "glory") was a two-row, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine used in Japanese aircraft during World War II. It was version of the famous Gnome-Rhône 14K, a license for which had been taken out in 1936. "Sakae" was the navy designation; the army called it the Ha-25 (ハ25). A total of 21,166 were made by Nakajima; 9,067 were manufactured by other firms.


Specifications
Displacement : 27.9 liters
Bore and stroke : 130 × 150mm
Length : 1,425mm
Diameter : 1,115 mm

Models
Sakae 21 : 1,130 hp (840 kW)

[Eureka181]

WTF are they thinking with how that instrument panel is arranged??

The ADI is in a good spot, but everything else is in a lousy spot for an instrument crosscheck.

Well, you have to remember it was re-restored in the 1980s by the CAF.

The A6M3 cockpit is restored authentically. Basically everything is set up as if it were WW2. Only with modern radios, DME, and transponder.


Compare this to the A6M2.

Eric

[DazDaMan]

I didn't know the CAF had another Zero!

There's something about the Zero that I like, but I can't pin it down!

So how many airowrthy Zeros are out there? I always assumed it was about three.

There are two that fly regularly, our A6M3 and the POF A6M5.



And there is the A6M2 in North Dakota that is flown occasionally.

So a total of three flying Zeros.

There was another A6M3-22, cn 3858, that was used in the movie Pearl Harbor but it does not fly any more.

Eric

Nice pic. I thought it was a firmer guess at two, but I'm not so up on the Zero!

What about the Blayde (sp?) one? Is that the North Dakota one?