MITSUBISHI A6M5 Type ZERO
Model 52a REISEN
Allied Code Name "ZEKE"
CFS3 - V4.0.168
AvHistory 1% Aircraft General Statement and Installation Instructions
Gregory Pierson's Version 4.0 first released in August 2006 represents a complete update of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line Process (1%ALP). Compared to our previous efforts, 4.0 is an order of magnitude improvement and a closer step towards our goal of producing aircraft that perform within 1% of the real aircraft. For additional info on Version-4 flight packages see the included AvHistory - Version-4 1%ALP text file.
No AvHistory 1% aircraft maybe provided for download from any site without express written consent of AvHistory. No skins for AvHistory aircraft, other then those based on stock MS CFS3 visuals, maybe offered for download with our written permission.
Additionally, direct linking to our download site is forbidden.
MITSUBISHI A6M5 Type ZERO Model 52a REISEN
This aircraft was built by SARGE using version 4.0.168 of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line process. The 1% version of this plane is based on Stephan Seybolt's excellent and highly detailed 3D model. Stephan also did the cockpit textures.
John BRAVO/4 Whelan painted the aircraft as the Planes of Fame Museum's Type 52a Zero.
Rene 'Greycap' of Steve's "O-1 Driver" effects team installed the lights & exhaust flames
The POF Mitsubishi A6M5-52a is the only authentic flying example of its kind in the world. It is owned by The Air Museum Planes of Fame in Chino, CA, and is powered by an original Sakei Radial engine. It was built in May 1943 and was the 2357th Zero produced. The plane flew with the 261st Air Corps and participated in the air defense of Japan (Operation "Pogo").
In March of 1944, it was reassigned to the air defense of Saipan, Tinian and Palau Islands, and was based at Asilito Airfield on Saipan. It was captured in June 1944 during Operation "Foraged" and shipped to the US aboard the USS Copahee in July of 1944. After arrival in the US, flight tests were conducted at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. 190 hours of test flights were conducted with one of the test pilots being Charles Lindbergh.
Why "Zero" ?
A designation system for airplanes had been in use in Japan since the early 1920s, and was based on the last two digits of the year of delivery to the Army or Navy. The A6M's predecessor, the Mitsubishi A5M "Claude", was delivered in the year 2596 of the Japanese calendar (1936), and had the title of "Navy Carrier Fighter Type 96". The A6M2 entered service in Japanese year 2600 (1940), and became the "Navy Carrier Fighter Type Zero". The Japanese nickname "Reisen" is short for "Rei Sentoki", meaning "Zero Fighter"
By early 1943, the war was beginning to go badly for the Japanese, and new, more capable Allied fighters such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Vought F4U Corsair had begun to appear. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was introduced into combat in the Aleutian theatre in August of 1942 and in the New Guinea theatre in the autumn of 1942. The P-38 had an excellent high-altitude performance, a high diving speed, and heavy armament. The US Navy introduced the Vought F4U Corsair in combat on February 13, 1943 during a raid on Bougainville. This fighter had high top speed, good diving performances, rugged construction, heavy armament, and good protection for the pilot and fuel tank. With these two American fighters committed to combat in large quantities, the Zero began to lose control of the air.
One of the primary weaknesses of the early Reisen was its insufficient diving speed, with less-maneuverable Allied fighters often being able to engage the Zero successfully in a diving encounter or else being able to escape destruction by diving to safety, the Zero being unable to follow. This forced the Japanese Navy to consider the development of an improved version of the Reisen, since the hoped-for generation of new fighter aircraft had yet to materialize. The A6M5 Model 52 was the result.
The first A6M5 flew in August of 1943. In spite of an increase in all-up weight of 440 pounds, the A6M5 was faster than the A6M3 Model 32, and could reach a maximum level speed of 351 mph at 19,685 feet.
In response to a need for heavier firepower and even better diving performance, the A6M5a version of the Zero Fighter was produced. The A6M5a Model 52A appeared in late 1943 and began rolling off the production lines at Mitsubishi and Nakajima in March of 1944. It had still heavier gauge wing skin which enable a further increase in diving speed to 460 mph, bringing it almost up to Western standards. This was to be the highest diving speed attained by any Reisen variant. Armament was improved by replacing the drum fed Type 99 Model 2 Mk3 cannon with 100 rpg with belt-fed 20-mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk4 cannon with 125 rpg.
Delivery of the Model 52a began in March of 1944. Mitsubishi built 391 Model 52a's. Nakajima also produced the type.
Model 52a REISEN
Allied Code Name "ZEKE"
CFS3 - V4.0.168
AvHistory 1% Aircraft General Statement and Installation Instructions
Gregory Pierson's Version 4.0 first released in August 2006 represents a complete update of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line Process (1%ALP). Compared to our previous efforts, 4.0 is an order of magnitude improvement and a closer step towards our goal of producing aircraft that perform within 1% of the real aircraft. For additional info on Version-4 flight packages see the included AvHistory - Version-4 1%ALP text file.
No AvHistory 1% aircraft maybe provided for download from any site without express written consent of AvHistory. No skins for AvHistory aircraft, other then those based on stock MS CFS3 visuals, maybe offered for download with our written permission.
Additionally, direct linking to our download site is forbidden.
MITSUBISHI A6M5 Type ZERO Model 52a REISEN
This aircraft was built by SARGE using version 4.0.168 of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line process. The 1% version of this plane is based on Stephan Seybolt's excellent and highly detailed 3D model. Stephan also did the cockpit textures.
John BRAVO/4 Whelan painted the aircraft as the Planes of Fame Museum's Type 52a Zero.
Rene 'Greycap' of Steve's "O-1 Driver" effects team installed the lights & exhaust flames
The POF Mitsubishi A6M5-52a is the only authentic flying example of its kind in the world. It is owned by The Air Museum Planes of Fame in Chino, CA, and is powered by an original Sakei Radial engine. It was built in May 1943 and was the 2357th Zero produced. The plane flew with the 261st Air Corps and participated in the air defense of Japan (Operation "Pogo").
In March of 1944, it was reassigned to the air defense of Saipan, Tinian and Palau Islands, and was based at Asilito Airfield on Saipan. It was captured in June 1944 during Operation "Foraged" and shipped to the US aboard the USS Copahee in July of 1944. After arrival in the US, flight tests were conducted at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. 190 hours of test flights were conducted with one of the test pilots being Charles Lindbergh.
Why "Zero" ?
A designation system for airplanes had been in use in Japan since the early 1920s, and was based on the last two digits of the year of delivery to the Army or Navy. The A6M's predecessor, the Mitsubishi A5M "Claude", was delivered in the year 2596 of the Japanese calendar (1936), and had the title of "Navy Carrier Fighter Type 96". The A6M2 entered service in Japanese year 2600 (1940), and became the "Navy Carrier Fighter Type Zero". The Japanese nickname "Reisen" is short for "Rei Sentoki", meaning "Zero Fighter"
By early 1943, the war was beginning to go badly for the Japanese, and new, more capable Allied fighters such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Vought F4U Corsair had begun to appear. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was introduced into combat in the Aleutian theatre in August of 1942 and in the New Guinea theatre in the autumn of 1942. The P-38 had an excellent high-altitude performance, a high diving speed, and heavy armament. The US Navy introduced the Vought F4U Corsair in combat on February 13, 1943 during a raid on Bougainville. This fighter had high top speed, good diving performances, rugged construction, heavy armament, and good protection for the pilot and fuel tank. With these two American fighters committed to combat in large quantities, the Zero began to lose control of the air.
One of the primary weaknesses of the early Reisen was its insufficient diving speed, with less-maneuverable Allied fighters often being able to engage the Zero successfully in a diving encounter or else being able to escape destruction by diving to safety, the Zero being unable to follow. This forced the Japanese Navy to consider the development of an improved version of the Reisen, since the hoped-for generation of new fighter aircraft had yet to materialize. The A6M5 Model 52 was the result.
The first A6M5 flew in August of 1943. In spite of an increase in all-up weight of 440 pounds, the A6M5 was faster than the A6M3 Model 32, and could reach a maximum level speed of 351 mph at 19,685 feet.
In response to a need for heavier firepower and even better diving performance, the A6M5a version of the Zero Fighter was produced. The A6M5a Model 52A appeared in late 1943 and began rolling off the production lines at Mitsubishi and Nakajima in March of 1944. It had still heavier gauge wing skin which enable a further increase in diving speed to 460 mph, bringing it almost up to Western standards. This was to be the highest diving speed attained by any Reisen variant. Armament was improved by replacing the drum fed Type 99 Model 2 Mk3 cannon with 100 rpg with belt-fed 20-mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk4 cannon with 125 rpg.
Delivery of the Model 52a began in March of 1944. Mitsubishi built 391 Model 52a's. Nakajima also produced the type.
