Currently reading Osprey’s new book on the Oscar in the “Aircraft of the Aces” series.
Thus far, this one is pretty interesting, and I’m learning a lot. Anyone else read it? Were your overall impressions about like mine thus far?
I’m not sure what it is, but the Oscar has always been the Japanese plane that I liked the most and found the most interesting. A shame none are flying these days.
By: PhantomII - 22nd December 2009 at 23:03
Finished the book yesterday, and it was quite an interesting read. The author was very informative and objective, which makes for a lot of interesting material. It would be interesting to see the opinion of any Japanese pilots that may have had the opportunity to fly both the Oscar and the Zeke. They seem similar in many ways, yet obviously different in others, so it would be a good read to hear about the strengths and weaknesses of each as compared to one another. I’m sure many would initially jump to the conclusion that the A6M was the better machine, but after learning a lot about the Oscar in recent days I’m not so sure that they weren’t roughly equal in an overall sense.
By: PhantomII - 19th December 2009 at 18:21
Oh…well hey…a “kind of” Oscar is better than none at all.
Still enjoying the book though I’m almost finished with it.
By: DaveM2 - 16th December 2009 at 03:23
Hey…..I was wrong….there is one flying. So it may not have the original engine….at least the airframe itself looks like the real deal. Obviously some parts are new, but I’d wager most restorations of World War II aircraft are like that.
I find the Oscar a rather attractive looking airplane compared to many other radial engined airplanes of the period.
These Oscars are new build in the vein of the FW190 / Me 262s. Wrecks from the Kurils were used as part patterns
Dave
By: PhantomII - 16th December 2009 at 01:36
Hey…..I was wrong….there is one flying. So it may not have the original engine….at least the airframe itself looks like the real deal. Obviously some parts are new, but I’d wager most restorations of World War II aircraft are like that.
I find the Oscar a rather attractive looking airplane compared to many other radial engined airplanes of the period.
By: AdlerTag - 15th December 2009 at 14:21
As I understand it, the ex-AFC machine is still with Flying Heritage. There’s a flying example based at the Tillamook Air Museum, powered by an American engine (P&W or Wright, can’t remember which). The museum website classes the aircraft as a restored original, although it’s largely new build.
http://www.tillamookair.com/html/oscar.html
Looking at the above link, it seems the cockpit hood and windshield have been raised to make room for the taller 21st century western pilot.
By: Flanker_man - 15th December 2009 at 09:04
There is a very poorly done ‘restoration’ of a Ki-43 at Victory Park in Moscow…. photographed in 2008
It’s more or less ‘boilerplate’ – just done up for static display – note the ‘wheelbarrow’ wheels….
I’m not sure of its provenance – but I photographed it in this state in 2007…
Ken
By: flyernzl - 15th December 2009 at 07:49
What happened to the one that was at the Alpine Fighter Museum back in the late 90s?
It was ex-4950 Imperial Japanese Army, used in Rabaul. Damaged 1944, taken to Australia and then restored to at least taxiing status. After its AFC life it went to the USA as N750N with Flying Heritage Collection, Bellevue, WA
at Wanaka 1998, ZK-OSC allotted but not taken up
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December 15, 2009 at 4:01 am