Only Zero in the world with an original Sakae engine prior to its flying display at Planes of Fame Air Museum. This A6M5 Model 52 was built by Nakajima in May 1943. It was assigned to 261 Kokutai or Tora (Tiger) unit formed at Kagoshima on 1 June 1943. The unit moved to Saipan in Feb 1944, whence the aircraft was captured at Asilito. After attrition 261 Kokutai was disbanded on 10 July 1944 and the surviving personnel joined 201 Kokutai. The Zero was shipped to the USA aboard USS Copahee, after which it was evaluated in mock combat. Charles Lindbergh and Corky Meyer also flew this Zero.

Biggest surprise during our stay at Mlada Boleslav was the fuel stop of this beautiful 80% size A6M Zero UL replica.

All for Aviation offers customized development, manufacturing support and repairs of ultralight and light sport aircraft. They have produced this absolutely superb 80% flying scale replica of the Zero and it was a very welcome visitor to this wonderful fly-in. It is pictured performing a flypast before departing.

PoF Zero being run up before a flight on practice day

This aircraft was, and still is, the only authentic, flying example of the Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Model 52, with its original Sakae engine.