"Zero Fighter Flies Over Japan for 1st Time Since WWII"

[Richard W.]

AP story this morning:

KANOYA, Japan — One of Mitsubishi's legendary Zero fighter planes took to the skies over Japan on Wednesday for the first time since World War II.

The restored plane made a brief flight to and from a naval base in southern Japan. Decorated former U.S. Air Force pilot Skip Holm flew the aircraft.

Zero fighters were considered one of the most capable fighter planes in World War II, rivaling the British Spitfire. Their long range allowed them to play a prominent role in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Only a few are still in operating condition.

This particular plane was found decaying in Papua New Guinea in the 1970s. It was owned by an American until Japanese businessman Masahiro Ishizuka purchased it and brought it to Japan last September.

"I wanted for the people of Japan and especially young people to know about this Zero airplane, as well as those who are old who remember the past," Ishizuka said. "Each of them should have different thoughts and perspectives on this, but I just want people to know how Japan has developed its technology."

Japanese see the aircraft both as a symbol of their country's technological advance and a reminder of the harrowing history of the war. In the last phase of the fighting, they were used for "kamikaze" attacks.

Kamikaze pilots took off from the same airfield as Wednesday's flight, Kanoya Naval Air Base on the island of Kyushu.

Under its previous American owner, the plane made an appearance in the Hollywood movie "Pearl Harbor" and at various events in the United States.

Photo from the Japan Times:

[Matt Gunsch]

I guess the Planes of Fame Zero's 3 trips to Japan don't count, even though it flew on 2 of them.

[Richard W.]

Yeah. Ha.

Reporters.

[Warbird Kid]

So they finally have a WWII fighter flying in Japan. Would have been nice to see one of Harada-San's restored Zeros take flight instead of acquiring one from the States. Lets hope she stays flying and doesn't become another static display in a shrine or museum somewhere.

[Dan Jones]

Where is the ex POF Ki 84 Frank now? What a shame they hadn't been able to hang onto that.

[Warbird Kid]

Where is the ex POF Ki 84 Frank now? What a shame they hadn't been able to hang onto that.

On display at the Tokko Heiwa Kinen-kan Museum, Kagoshima Prefecture



Considering it's the last of it's kind, and on display with the last original Ki-61, a replica Ki-43, and a recovered Zero airframe, I tend to think she's in a good home. But hopefully we'll see some new build Franks in the future.

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Richard W.]

Love the Frank. My favorite Japanese fighter.

Too precious to risk flying it.

[marine air]

The Yahoo article says it was purchased in the U.S. last September. Who was the previous owner? THe CAF sold theirs to the museum in Hawaii. IS this one of the Russian rebuilds? Thanks.

P.S. Yes I was hoping it was a fresh rebuild that would've grown the list of flyers.

[JohnTerrell]

Yep, this is one of the three that were built new in Russia in the 90's (using some original parts and identities), and then imported/completed in the US, powered by a P&W R-1830 (the other two being the examples owned/operated by the Commemorative Air Force SoCal Wing and the Flying Heritage Collection).

This one was based/operated out of the Mojave, California airport for a number of years (and caused it to generally be referred to as the "Mojave Zero"). The aircraft was actually purchased by a Japanese businessman back in as early as 2012, as I recall. At that time, it was then flown at the Chino Planes of Fame airshow in 2012, along with POF's Zero and the CAF's Zero, all together in flight. Immediately following the airshow, the aircraft was then flown to Anchorage, Alaska where it remained until it could be either flown to or shipped to Japan. Through a lot of time and effort spent on getting everything cleared with (the very restricted) Japanese civil aviation, the aircraft will now hopefully be operating in Japan on a regular basis.

This aircraft was also one of the warbirds used in the filming of the movie "Pearl Harbor".

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a ... plica.html

Video from the 2012 POF airshow, featuring this Zero together with the CAF and POF examples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM1nWi3t3N4

[Zac Yates]

By way of some kind of defence for the headline writer, the last line of the article does say it was the first time "a Japanese-owned Zero took to the skies in Japan".

I think it's great that a civil Zero is able to fly in Japan. Hopefully it paves the way for others - like Harada-san - to do the same.

[Pogo]

Video from the 2012 POF airshow, featuring this Zero together with the CAF and POF examples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM1nWi3t3N4

WOW!!