[ARC5] zero

[Bruce Long]

i hesitate to attempt to add anything to the fount of knowledge shared by this group but I have read there was a Japanese two engine transport aircraft- sorry i don't remember which-  which also lacked self sealing gas tanks and which was so inflammable the Japanese pilots nick named it the flying zippo lighter.

I was doubly astounded when I read this first it seemed out of place for the disciplined and obedient Japanese pilots to be so forthrightly negative in their humor and second I had no idea the Zippo lighter was so well known internationally in the years before the war.

Of course if you add self sealing gas tanks to the zero you gain a lot of weight and loose some range and nimbleness.  I understand that the prime design criteria for the zero - maneuverability, speed and range all depended upon forfeiting all un-necessary weight.  The zero was certainly vulnerable with respect to its fuel tanks but it is not obvious to me that self sealing gas tanks would have improved the battle loss ratio.   As an engineer I admire the design of the zero as being a machine supremely well designed for its designated role however I know I lack the military strategic planning ability to make any judgment if some other set of design goals would have served Japan better.

By the way I live in central Pennsylavaina and there is someone in the genral area who has and who flys a restored zero.  He appears overhead at the local Lewisburg forth of july parade and every couple months I see him out flying on random nice days. The sound of the engine is both unique and manificent but I must admit every time I hear it- even before I knew there was a zero in the region- it sends a tremor of fear up my spine.  It just sounds dangerous and threatening.  Maybe I watched too many WW2 propaganda films as a boy.

bruce






________________________________
 From: David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 6:05 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] zero
 
>From what I've read, the Japanese decision not to use 
self-sealing gas tanks killed more of their pilots than 
anything else.  Bump the thing and it would burn.

______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html