Get ready Peachtree City...the Japanese Zero Air Show is coming as part of the Peachtree City Memorial Day celebration on May 30, 2009!
The air show features an excitingly and breath-taking replica of the feared and famous Japanese "Zero" fighter that once ruled the Pacific skies in the early part of WW II. This aircraft is a replica A6M2 "Zero", also known as a "Zeke" and was built for the filming of the now famous WW II film Tora! Tora! Tora! about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Just to give you a little bit of history, The A6M2 or Zero was one of the most significant aircraft in the Japanese Navy's arsenal. Also known as a Zeke, this piece of machinery was a fighter aircraft whose performance was far superior to anything in the United States inventory, and perhaps the world. The Japanese were confident they could control the entire Pacific with their air superiority. While over 10,000 Zeros were produced, their losses during the war, and the requirement included in the Japanese Surrender Agreement signed in August 1945 stating that all of Japan's offensive weapons be destroyed, made unavailable any authentic Japanese war planes for documentary and film production.
The replica A6M2-21 Zero is authentic right down to details included the addition of 7.7mm machine
guns over the engine cowl, a 20mm canon on each wing, and a cockpit canopy modified to the specifications of the original Zero. Even the detail of adding the three bladed prop, a tail arresting hook and converting the formerly fixed tail wheel to a fully functional retractable tail wheel were accomplished.
The Zero was the predator of all aerial dogfights and the nemesis of the US Wildcat with a max speed of 364 mph, a cruising speed of 201 mph, and unbelievable range (1,200 to 1,800 miles). Surely the Zero can be without argument considered one of the best fighter planes of its time next to the British Spitfire.
The pilot is Capt. S. J. Jack Van Ness, Jr. Capt. Van Ness has an aviation background that includes having been a flight instructor, corporate pilot and airline pilot. His experience includes flying the Lockheed PV1 Super Ventura, Howard 500, Lockheed Constellation, Douglas DC7, Lockheed L188 Electra, Douglas DC8, Douglas DC9, Boeing 727, Boeing 757, Lockheed L1011, Airbus A300, as well as many light aircraft.
Jack and his wife, Barbara, reside near Atlanta, GA and are active Colonels in the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. He is a flying sponsor of the Dixie Wing P-51 Mustang and Korean War LT-6 aircraft. While his formal education is in Aerospace Technology and Business, he enjoys flying in air
shows and discussing some of the history of the events of Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway, and the war in the Pacific to the younger generations he meets.
Don't ya dare miss it!!
For more information contact:
Japanese Zero, LLC
Attn: Jack Van Ness
826 Gary Summers Rd.
Senoia, GA 30276
Phone: 770-599-1355 Fax: 770-599-3171
Email: contact@japanesezero.net
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