Moon The Loon Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 This was the lead line in a series of proposed commercials to advertise Honda's arrival in North America in the 1960's. Needless to say, the agency didn't get awarded the contract. 50 years later, I recalled that phrase after looking up at the sound of a throaty radial engine overhead. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. After reviewing many photos on web-sites, my observation seems to confirm I was looking at a Mitsubishi Zero in flight in the skies over Ottawa. Wow. Googling "Mitsubishi Zero" brought me here: http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/28/world/restored-japanese-zero-fighter-plane-flies-over-japan/ This is close to what I saw - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kip Powick Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Hmmm..ahhhh errr...I would like to believe you about a Zero over OW but I have my doubts. There are only about 4 that are in flying condition and I think only one has an original Sakai engine in it. The rest have P&W engines. What you may have seen is an AT6(American) or as we called it, the Harvard, that has been modified to look like a Zero, many for use in WW2 films. Based on my only 150 hours in the "Hazard" I can tell you it did have a throaty engine as well At the end of WW2, McArthur, I think ordered all Zeros destroyed and all tech manuals etc destroyed. There is one Zero south of the border that was recovered and some elderly Japanese gentlemen that help build the original sent secreted manuals and tech drawings to help with the retoration but alas...many parts were just not available and the restored aircraft do noit have the Sakai engine and parts of the landing gear are also modified. Just for fun..... The flight line at RCAF station Penhold in 1963.....with my brand new Yashika 35 MM...(as you can see...not used to it yet) the centre of the photo has a fellow Officer Cadet who ground looped and is being rescued from the one legged Harvard.......he was later CT'd (Ceased Training and released) Shot out of the back seat as my instructor took me up to learn instrument flying Taking a break from Instrument flying from the back seat and I shot this one of me trying to do a barrel roll from the rear seat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon The Loon Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 Thanks Kip. With all respect, the distinctive rounded wingtips of the Zero are a giveaway. Harvards/Yales had a squared off wingtip. The engine installation was also more "compact" to the rest of the airplane. I'm not denying your observation, but I'm interested to find out if the Zero in my link is the airplane I saw. What if it was??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 I wonder if it could be: A6M2-21 c/n 5549 (Nakajima built) WI-187 Recovered from Balalae Island in 1965 after service with 201 Kokutai, was with Robert Diemert, Manitoba, Canada. Now reported with Blayd Corporation, Carman, Manitoba, and being used as a pattern for building a new Zero. Project commenced in 1994 and is estimated to take 60,000 man-hours. The new aircraft will fly with a P&W R-1830 engine. http://www.seattlepi.com/business/boeing/article/Newly-acquired-Japanese-Zero-set-to-fly-Saturday-3619660.php http://www.ascalecanadian.com/2012/06/flying-heritage-collection-fly-day-zero.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blues deville Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Lots of US movies being filmed in Canada these days. Perhaps a ferrry flight with a tech stop in YOW/CYOW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st27 Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 If you are real curious, give Vintage Wings in Gatineau a call...maybe they have a lead on it. Not exactly warbird weather, though.btw..going through their inventory, the p40 has rounded wing tips and a similar looking tail section, but no radial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemic Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Hey Moon, Don't suppose you could've spotted a Nanchang CJ-6 perchance? Everyone and his dog seems to have one stuffed in a hangar these days.... mic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon The Loon Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 1 hour ago, bluemic said: Hey Moon, Don't suppose you could've spotted a Nanchang CJ-6 perchance? Everyone and his dog seems to have one stuffed in a hangar these days.... mic Don't know, hence the thread!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say Again, Over! Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Can you get me an approximate place as well as date and time? I'll try a replay and see if we had him tagged up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acsidestick Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Many years ago, I went to a factory in Manitoba, that had nothing to do with Diemerts brutal operation. It was in the southwest somewhere and run by an old man and his two sons. They were making BRAND NEW ZEROS from parts of wrecks out of jungles. I think the plan was to make 4-6. All they need per airplane was the serial plates to be considered "original", and they had them, plus several wrecks. You should have seen the level of artisanship required to make one of these. When I was there they were milling wing spars, which were continuous 39 feet with the spar twist of several degrees over the entire length. It was taking a month per spar, as they had to start over several times. They said it was the reason no one ever built one other than the factory. i really don't remember too much other than they had 2-3 quite full looking wrecks (lots of bamboo used inside). I really don't know what happened to the project, but I'll state again, this wasn't Diemert. If any of this rings a bell, I'd love to fill in my blanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say Altitude Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 The YOW sighting you speak of was a Nanchang. It's owned by a guy who works for NavCanada - he owns an L-39 too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Moon, on Wiki there is a good drawing and several other good photographs of the Zero, (and a boneyard of Zeros at Atsugi Naval Air Base) @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#/media/File:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero_drawing.svg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 1 hour ago, acsidestick said: Many years ago, I went to a factory in Manitoba, that had nothing to do with Diemerts brutal operation. It was in the southwest somewhere and run by an old man and his two sons. They were making BRAND NEW ZEROS from parts of wrecks out of jungles. I think the plan was to make 4-6. All they need per airplane was the serial plates to be considered "original", and they had them, plus several wrecks. You should have seen the level of artisanship required to make one of these. When I was there they were milling wing spars, which were continuous 39 feet with the spar twist of several degrees over the entire length. It was taking a month per spar, as they had to start over several times. They said it was the reason no one ever built one other than the factory. i really don't remember too much other than they had 2-3 quite full looking wrecks (lots of bamboo used inside). I really don't know what happened to the project, but I'll state again, this wasn't Diemert. If any of this rings a bell, I'd love to fill in my blanks. I believe this link may be helpful Restoration of Japanese Aircraft First, he restored the D3A2 Val 3178 using an American Wright R-2600 radial engine, and flew it to Ottawa where it was donated to the Canadian National Aviation Museum, in return for the transportation services of the Canadian Air Force (CAF). Diemert then restored two Zero fuselages at the same time in the 1970's. The first plane, given A6M2 4461, but crashed on its first test flight. He then used the rear fuselage of the second fuselage to rebuild a single Zero that was then sold to the USMC Museum. http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/restore/diemert/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon The Loon Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 4 hours ago, Say Again, Over! said: Can you get me an approximate place as well as date and time? I'll try a replay and see if we had him tagged up. Hi SA,O: I was walking along Richmond Road vicinity Island Park Drive at roughly 11:45 Wednesday morning 23 November. He was about 2,000' southbound. You might just solve the mystery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon The Loon Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 2 hours ago, Say Altitude said: The YOW sighting you speak of was a Nanchang. It's owned by a guy who works for NavCanada - he owns an L-39 too.... Just read your post, SA. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo32a Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 The CJ6 has much more squared off wingtip than the Zero. Just as an aside, my wife's grandfather located and restored an original Zero and donated it to the aviation museum in Seattle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 "The CJ6 has much more squared off wingtip than the Zero." ...and a much more squared off vertical stabilizer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanchang_CJ-6#/media/File:Nanchang_CJ-6A_Airplane_over_California_Coastline_N4183E_20110219.jpg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon The Loon Posted November 25, 2016 Author Share Posted November 25, 2016 On 2016-11-23 at 10:45 PM, bluemic said: Hey Moon, Don't suppose you could've spotted a Nanchang CJ-6 perchance? Everyone and his dog seems to have one stuffed in a hangar these days.... mic From Don's post (above), the CJ-6 had a nose gear. Still got doubts what I saw! Any insider hints, Say Again, Over?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say Again, Over! Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Kip wins that one! It was indeed a Harvard T6 that went exactly where you said at exactly the time you said. You must write really awesome reports! Here's a picture of one just like it: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Is that a satellite antenna just rear of the canopy? GPS in a T6...perhaps for research capbilities? Smart looking airplane regardless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 25 minutes ago, Don Hudson said: Is that a satellite antenna just rear of the canopy? GPS in a T6...perhaps for research capbilities? Smart looking airplane regardless! Your TAX do$$ars at work Don LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say Again, Over! Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 From the NRC website: Quote The Harvard is a post-war single-engine propeller aircraft used extensively by the Royal Canadian Air Force for flight training. It is capable of high-g "aerobatic" manoeuvers and carries 2 pilots and an advanced instrumentation package in the rear seat. Its flying qualities make it an ideal demonstrator for out-of-control recovery technique training and the rear cockpit can be modified to host advanced avionic displays. The unique display capability allows prototyping and assessment of novel and unique flight display technologies to aircrew in a broad range of flight conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Thanks Say Again, Over! Hey Kasey, sounds like a pretty good use of tax dollars! The airplane is a joy to fly - a good friend took me up in the one he and another owned - we did aerobatics for an hour or so...the log-book entry for the trip was, "therapy..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.O. Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 The NRC aviation folks are doing some pretty important work in the establishment of navigation and communication technology upgrades in Canada. They've also been heavily involved in increasing the understanding of airborne icing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say Again, Over! Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 They actually have a pretty impressive fleet. Read up on what these machines can do!!! http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/solutions/facilities/research_aircraft.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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