Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Zero>HA8805

General Background

The A6M entered service in 1940 and became known as the Zero because of the Japanese designation of Type 0 Carrier Fighter. The Zero technology was years ahead of any other fighter and had no problem clearing the skies of opposing aircraft. There were numerous variants of the Zero including the folding wing A6M2 Model 21 designed for carrier operations. The A6M2 was the most produced Japanese aircraft of WWII. As the war went on the Model 21 would be the Zero variant that most Allied pilots would encounter.

The Aircraft

Sakai became a pilot in 1937. In 1938 Sakai flew an A5M Navy Type 96 fighter, scoring one victory over a DB-3 bomber. In 1940 he was chosen to test the new A6M Zero against the Chinese and in late 1941 joined the Tainan Air Group on Taiwan. He used A6M2 Zero V-173 while based on Rabaul in June and July 1942. Ordered to shoot down any Allied aircraft, military or civil Sakai refused to shoot down a C-47 when he saw a woman and a child onboard. Sakai is credited with 64 victories.

Specifications :

Role:	Fighter
Production Of All Zero Types:	Almost 10, 500
Crew:	1 Pilot
Power plant:	1 X Nakajima Sakae 12 Producing 925 HP
Performance:	Speed - 331 mph (533 km/h)
	Ceiling - 33,792.5 ft (10,300 m)
	Range – 1,044 miles (1,680 km)
Weight:	3,703.7 lb (1,680 kg) Empty
Dimensions:	Wingspan – 39 ft 4.4 in (12 m)
	Length – 29.72 ft (9.06 m)
	Height – 10 ft (3.05 m)
Armament	2 X 7.7 mm Type 97 Machine Guns On Upper Fuselage Firing Through A Synchronized Propeller
	2 X 20 mm Type 99 Cannon Wing-Mounted
	2 X External 132 lb (60 kg) Bombs