Wings Over Houston Airshow 2011 Part 3 of 3

[houtex01]

Here are a few more photos from the airshow...I'm looking for correct ID or names of the planes in each of these photos...would greatly appreciate your help in IDing them...thanks...

Ron

[mdparthum]

The Zeros are converted AT-6 Texans, the Torpedo Bombers are Vultee Vengeance conversions I believe. Not sure about the Dive Bomber.

[dmcantrell]

#1 is a P-40 Warhawk
#2 is a AT-6 Texan

All of the Japanese planes are replicas made from other planes as Michael mentioned.

Also, this may prove helpful : -= COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE =-

and this : Commemorative Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[mdparthum]

As per David's link, the torpedo bombers are Vultee Valiants. Good link David, thanks.

[houtex01]

Thanks Michael and David for all your inputs...really appreciated...since all of these are conversion replicas of the original Japanese planes, are there any original planes in flying condition anywhere?

Ron

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by houtex01

Thanks Michael and David for all your inputs...really appreciated...since all of these are conversion replicas of the original Japanese planes, are there any original planes in flying condition anywhere?

Ron

I think the vast majority of the Japanese WWII-era planes are at the bottom of the Pacific. Towards the end of WWII, the Japanese really stepped up their kamikaze campaign - sending upwards of 100 aircraft to attack a single Allied warship. Their aircraft numbers dwindled significantly.

According to the wiki page for the A6M "Zero", there are only a handful left in the world that are air-worthy, and even fewer that have the original engines in them.

Mitsubishi A6M Zero - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I didn't look up the other Japanese planes, but I would imagine that they are in a similar state.

[mdparthum]

The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida has a Zero and another fighter that I can't remember the type and the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio has a Zero and a Nakajima George.

[LEO III]

Ron, there was one real Zero at WOH. The tail number is A1-1-129. If you have a picture of the one that flew by itself (not in Tora! Tora! Tora!) around 11AM, that was it. I think I saw it fly on Saturday, but I only have pictures of it's flying on Sunday. (I spent Saturday morning getting pictures of the planes on static display.)

The conversion replicas are some of the planes that were actually used in the 1970 movie Tora! Tora! Tora! Here is a link to their history:

Tora! Tora! Tora!

[houtex01]

Originally Posted by LEO III

Ron, there was one real Zero at WOH. The tail number is A1-1-129. If you have a picture of the one that flew by itself (not in Tora! Tora! Tora!) around 11AM, that was it. I think I saw it fly on Saturday, but I only have pictures of it's flying on Sunday. (I spent Saturday morning getting pictures of the planes on static display.)

The conversion replicas are some of the planes that were actually used in the 1970 movie Tora! Tora! Tora! Here is a link to their history:

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Larry, I did get a few photos of that plane...here are a couple...had to really crop to get these...this was just past 11AM on Saturday morning...

Ron

[LEO III]

Yepper! That's the one! Glad you got it!

I haven't even started going through my pictures yet. Just got them downloaded this afternoon.

[Stargazer77517]

Candy apple green zero, who would have thought.

[houtex01]

Originally Posted by Stargazer77517

Candy apple green zero, who would have thought.

Thanks Fred for viewing and commenting...always enjoy reading them...since these planes are replicas of the originals, do the paint schemes replicate the originals?

Ron

[David Alaniz]

You had a neat location to get all these good shots. Good job Ron.

[houtex01]

Originally Posted by David Alaniz

You had a neat location to get all these good shots. Good job Ron.

The location is free and it seems to be in a good spot to catch the aircraft as they enter/leave the main corridor of the airshow...but there are many photo opportunities that are only available by being inside of the airshow...ie..some of the great shots posted here...so for next year maybe I will consider shooting from both locations...

Ron

[Tim T]

Another very nice series Ron. I would recommend that you check out the show from inside the fence as you mentioned. It's cool to see the static displays as well.