BZ's 2009 Chino Zeroes

This Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero is the only one in the world still flying that's powered by the original Nakajima Sakae 31 engine.
Click on the control below to hear the takeoff sounds!



Here's a Japanese Aichi D3A Val and Zero flying in formation.


A pair of Zeroes in a pass. When first employed in WWII, the Zero was the best carrier fighter in the world. It was a formidable dogfighter with excellent manueverability, great climb rate, and very long range. Allied fighters which tried to out turn a Zero in a dogfight didn't stand a chance.


In order to be fast and manueverable, the Zero was made as light as possible with no armor protection, or self sealing fuel tanks. This trade-off made the Zero very vulnerable to enemy fire - with a tendancy to catch fire and explode when struck. Here is a shot of the Zero landing.


A colorful shot of the Zero taxiing by parked Mustangs and other warbirds.


This is of course, not a Zero, but a Aichi D3A Val replica. The Val dive bomber achieved success early in the war - most notably at Pearl Harbor and against British vessels in SE-asia. By 1944 however, the Vals were hopelessly outdated, and suffered heavy losses.


The name Zero became so synonymous with Japanese fighters that most other types that came after it was often (incorrectly) referred to as Zero's as well.


This A6M3 Zero owned by the CAF is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R1830 engine. The engine is very similar to the original Nakajima engine, as both are 2-row, 14 cylinder, air cooled radial designs. It even sounds very much like the original!



Here are the 2 Zeroes in a formation pass. The Zeroes ruled the skies over the Pacific in the early days of the war, but suitable tactics by the Allies allowed the P-40s and Wildcats to at least hold their own. When better aircraft like the Hellcat, Corsair, and Lightning arrived on the scene, the Zero's days were numbered.