I just can’t get enough of this aircraft, the only operational, original WWII Japanese aircraft in the world today ! This is the ONLY WWII Japanese aircraft that is flyable today with an original Japanese WWII engine, the Mitsubishi Sakae 14-cylinder, Model 31 “Prosperity”. A very, very unique and historic sound ! This is the sound of history and it is very likely that this is the ONLY original WWII Japanese aircraft engine that any of us will ever to be able to hear in person. Of course, this A6M5 Zero is owned by the Planes of Fame Museum located in Chino, California. In the late 1970s, this aircraft was restored to flying staus. The engine was restored by the Stewart-Davis Company in Long Beach, California. Stewart-Davis (no longer in business) had a very good reputation for rebuilding radial engines and, according to Ed Maloney (the founder of the Planes of Fame Museum), Stewart-Davis took on the challenge of rebuilding this essentially one-of-a-kind engine and delivered a zero-time powerplant with no issues at all. Over 30 years later, this engine (on the original rebuild) is still going strong. This aircraft was built by Nakajima under license from Mitsubishi in May 1943 and was later captured by US Marines on Saipan in June 1944. It was then shipped to Patuxent River, Maryland in the US for evaluation. About 190 hours of flight time were logged during this evaluation, including some hours by Charles Lindbergh himself. After being declared surplus following the war …
#1 by brunohoffma on June 14th, 2011
Quote
That was the sound that scarried thousand of american soldiers….AMAZING SOUND
#2 by acfinney1 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
I saw this plane in Nashville Tennessee. It was paired with a Grumman Hellcat. The Zeke sounded very fragile to me, but I guess that is the way they sound. Weird feeling seeing a Zero overhead.
#3 by GekkoKamen on June 14th, 2011
Quote
@Ilovecomedy7 Yes they could, those engine sounds had very distinctive tones, just like people voices. They were fully recognizable by trained ears. Just for the try, listen to this and compare it to a Spitfire sound, or to a Corsair sound, and you’ll tell the difference at once.
#4 by Ilovecomedy7 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Could people tell if they are enemies just by the sound of engines ?
#5 by sombermike on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Beautiful plane; they sure don’t make em like they used to.
#6 by NoobsAreUsh on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Holy shit that sounds terrifying, I would have shat myself on the spot if I heard one of those things above my house
#7 by LeoAndRas on June 14th, 2011
Quote
If this plane is a model A6M5,the answer is no,because this version was introduced in the Pacific against the american fighters after the second half of 1943. To be the plane found almost intact in the early days of WW2 and tested in flight against american fighters in american territory this plane must be an A6M2 early series.
#8 by LeoAndRas on June 14th, 2011
Quote
If this plane is a model A6M5,the answer is no,because this version was introduced in the Pacific against the american fighters after the second half of 1943. To be the plane found almost intact in the early days of WW2 and tested in flight against american fighters in american territory this plane must be an A6M2 early series.
#9 by Charaht on June 14th, 2011
Quote
History is preserved!!! I hope she flies forever!!!!
#10 by bronxboy67 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
@MickeyLS thats funny!!
#11 by MickeyLS on June 14th, 2011
Quote
@bronxboy67 Probably for the same reason a person in prison on death row gets his arm swabbed with alcohol before they give the lethal injection!
#12 by saramusga1976 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
wow! zero caloroies and all that japenese taste
#13 by greenseaships on June 14th, 2011
Quote
@bronxboy67 I would suppose so they can hear instructions or information over the radio.
#14 by bronxboy67 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
I always wondered why Kamikazes wore helmets??
)
#15 by vellieux on June 14th, 2011
Quote
they recovered a Zero fighter from Adak when the inexperinced pilot flipped upside down upon landing in a soggy marsh field
#16 by TheAmericanRifleman on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Very nice.
#17 by MrAnton275 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Great video, great description, and GREAT sound!
#18 by jagerfaust2009 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Great video and sound (you can’t beat it)
Can someone tell me please… Were these engines fitted with the “through the gate device” with gave extra emergency performance over a short time?”
Thanks for the posting…..
#19 by MrJp990 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
is this the a6m5?
#20 by Kaioken1000 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
what an amazing aircraft thanks for the upload
Favorited for sure
#21 by OneEyeWonderWeasil on June 14th, 2011
Quote
I really like how unique this bird sounds
#22 by 3240590 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
I like the seperate exhaust pipes for each cylinder. The other one flying today with the P&W engine has just one. It was easy on gas, handled well, climed like a rocket(no armor protection!) and stalled at 60. If we had used only two Brownings and did away with our armor protection even our P47 could’ve performed better.
#23 by Crimble67 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
@3240590 Ultimately we achieved air superiority? That makes it sound as though it came late in the war. We basically achieved air, sea and land superiority before the first year of the war was over. Some could even argue that from the Battle of Midway on it was a turkey shoot. Midway occurred six months into the war!
#24 by PrincessMiyuki14 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Kyaaa!!!!!! That looks sooo cool! I love it!
#25 by Toyman07 on June 14th, 2011
Quote
Beautiful!