Military Aviation Museum’s Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 32 Zero Flies!

The Military Aviation Museum’s Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 32 Zero flew for the first time this morning following a successful test flight with Chief Pilot Mike Spalding at the controls. This is the culmination of decades of work, primarily by the team at Legend Flyers, but also including a handful of other workshops before them. Today’s flight from Paine Field in Everett, Washington like marks the first time a Model 32 Zero has taken to the air since the end of WWII. The former Imperial Japanese Navy fighter took off just before 10 am local time, with Mark Darrow following behind in his T-34C Turbo Mentor acting as a chase plane. Spalding took the Zero up to about 4,200′ and made a dozen or so orbits in the half-hour flight over an area just to the west of the airfield whilst putting the aircraft through a series of tests to evaluate the systems, flaps, and undercarriage.

Reflecting on the historic first flight of the Military Aviation Museum’s A6M3 Model 32 Zero, Keegan Chetwynd, Director and CEO of the museum, called it “a major milestone,” emphasizing the aircraft’s importance as perhaps the most significant Japanese fighter of WWII and America’s principal adversary in the Pacific air war. “Having one represented in our flying collection allows us to recognize and honor the U.S. Navy aviators who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said, noting that further test flights are needed before the aircraft can be flown home to Virginia Beach for public display. Chief Pilot Mike Spalding, who conducted the maiden flight, reported that “the aircraft handled exceptionally well and was light on the controls,” adding that only a few minor adjustments are needed before both he and the aircraft are ready to fly again. Bob Hammer of Legend Flyers, the team responsible for the bulk of the restoration, summed up the moment simply: “It’s been a long time coming, and we’re all absolutely thrilled today.”

Simon Butler and Jordan Arens were on hand to capture images for us, and we are very grateful for their efforts. More details on the flight can be found at the following link. To see progress on some of the other restoration projects at the Military Aviation Museum, please click HERE. Or sign up for the monthly From the Workshop newsletter HERE.