A Japanese Purchased a Zero in the U.S.

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Shinpachi

Major
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Feb 17, 2008
Osaka
Just a breaking news and I don't know details yet but -

A Japanese entrepreneur Masahide Ishizuka 53 purchased a Zero (A6M3) in the U.S. and it arrived at Saitama City near Tokyo to be displayed on Nov 21. He says he is going to fly it in next year.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwJNbefEpe4

A6M3_Mod22.mp4_000002235.jpg
 

evangilder

"Shooter"
19,049
204
Sep 17, 2004
Moorpark, CA
www.vg-photo.com
I think that is the one that was going to go to Alaska that spent a few weeks at Camarillo back in 2012. Here is was at the Chino show in 2012. If memory serves correctly, it had a little bit of a nose up flight characteristic that couldn't be trimmed out back then, so it was a little tiring to fly.

DSC_0133.jpg
 

evangilder

"Shooter"
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204
Sep 17, 2004
Moorpark, CA
www.vg-photo.com
Yep, that is the sister ship of the Camarillo Zero. That is the one that was supposed to go to Alaska in 2012. I hope Mr. Ishizuka has a lot of money, I have heard insuring one in Japan is prohibitively expensive, unless insurance regulations have eased. How long has it been since a Zero has flown over Japan?

DSC_1266.jpg
 

evangilder

"Shooter"
19,049
204
Sep 17, 2004
Moorpark, CA
www.vg-photo.com
Yeah, this one and the one in Camarillo are like Frankenstein. There are parts from multiple Zeros that were recovered from Babo Island Airfield in the 1980s and partially restored in Russia for the Camarillo one. I had heard this one was from Babo as well, but I have also heard it was recovered in New Guinea. But the Camarillo Zero and this one both have the Pratt and Whitney engines in them.
 
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Shinpachi

Major
10,409
8,541
Feb 17, 2008
Osaka
Thanks for the information, Eric.

He purchased the Zero for about US$3,000,000.00 and asks donation for the maintenance in Japan.
He also has business in US and NZ with the NZ passport.
 

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