Wahpeton Zero makes first flight

[John Beyl]

A note sent to me earlier this week from the boys in Wahpeton ND: The Zerosen took to the air last week for its first flight with only minor discrepancies reported. Gerry Beck was the stick actuator. No other details were forwarded.

John
CC Red Tail Mustang

[mrhenniger]

Thanks for keeping us updated!

Mike

[dj51d]

Thanks John. It's good to hear they finally got all the paperwork sorted out. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to see a real A6M.

[John Beyl]

Thanks John. It's good to hear they finally got all the paperwork sorted out. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to see a real A6M.

Why only look at it....for a couple million bucks you could own it! Who hoo...it's only somebody elses money!

[setter]

Hi

What is the powerplant of this machine - is it Yank or has it got a genuine Japanese donk in it.

Thanks for the update - I wish we had one of these down here in Aus - however a Tony will be nice once that is finished and I can always squint when I look at the Tora Zero here in Brisbane and imagine it6 is the real thing.!!!!!


Kindest Regards
John parker

Last edited by setter on Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[dj51d]

The Wahpeton Model 21 has a Pratt & Whitney R-1830. The only running Sakae engine I know of is on the Planes Of Fame's Model 52.

[DaveM2]

IIRC all the 'Blayd Zeros' are new aircraft, using a couple of wrecks as patterns..nice to see another representative of the type back in the skies though......

Dave

[dj51d]

IIRC all the 'Blayd Zeros' are new aircraft, using a couple of wrecks as patterns..nice to see another representative of the type back in the skies though......

Dave

That's what I've heard too, but when I asked Gerry Beck about this he called it a restoration. I haven't seen any photos of what they started with, here again we run into the lack of standard definitions for restoration, replica, etc. Either way, it's certainly a fantastic piece of work that I look forward to seeing in the air, in photos, or better yet, in person.

[Dan K]

Concerning operating Sakae's, does anyone know (with any kind of certainty) if the engines of Nobuo Harada's Zero collection are runable?

[DaveM2]

Dan

There was a good article on the beginings of the Blayd Zero rebuilds in an old Warbirds Worldwide issue.....certainly a long way off being a 'restoration' as opposed to being a 'new build' in my opinion....

Dave..gritting his teeth

Hello,

The ex-Blayd Zero is the most accurate of the "remanufactured" Zeros and incredible in and out.

Collector Nobuo Harada has an immaculate restored/remanufactured original A6M2 Zero and owns a matching. running Sakae engine but the goofy Japanese government won't clear the paperwork to fly her. What a shame.

Ron Werneth

[setter]

Hi all

Do we have any pictures yet - I would love to see this machine !!!

Kindest regards
John Parker