The Last Flyable WWII Japanese Zero With Its Original Engine

At the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California, aviation enthusiasts can witness a piece of history take to the skies. The museum’s 1943 A6M5 Zero is the only operational WWII Japanese aircraft flying today with its original Mitsubishi Sakae 31 radial engine!

After being captured by U.S. Marines on Saipan in June 1944, the aircraft was shipped to Patuxent River, Maryland, for evaluation, logging roughly 190 flight hours, including some flown by Charles Lindbergh. The late 1970s saw the aircraft restored to flying status, with the original Sakae 31 engine meticulously rebuilt by the Stewart-Davis Company.

Over 30 years later, that same engine continues to operate reliably, producing the unmistakable sound of history that no other original Japanese WWII aircraft can replicate.

Following its restoration, the Zero was flown back to Japan for demonstrations and airshows, marking the first time a Zero had flown over its homeland since World War II. The aircraft remains a centerpiece for the Planes of Fame Museum.