Santa Monica Museum of Flying (Closed)
Museum of Flying2772 Donald Douglas Loop
North Santa Monica, California 90405
Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1850
Tel 310-392-8822

(The museum has closed). Founded by David Price.

The Museum of Flying formally housed collection of World War II fighter aircraft. The majority of the aircraft within the collection were sold to other museums. In its collection was following:

Douglas DWC World Cruiser "New Orleans"
Douglas AD-6 Skyraider
Bearcat F8F-1
P-38 Lightning
DC-3
Stearman
Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII (to Planes of Fame)
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
North American T-28B.
P-51 "Dago Red" (Reno air racer)
A6M3 Zero 3869 (to CAF Camarillo)

A6M Zeros Built in Russia
Based on wreckage salvaged by Bruce Fenstermaker from Babo Airfield in 1991, Santa Monica Museum of Flying commissioned a Russian restoration facility to build three Zeros between 1994 - 1997. Each restoration had a budget of approximately $300,000 USD.

Originally, the plan was to build one example of each model: A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5. Instead, the Zeros built used primarily new materials and incorporated features of A6M2 Model 21 Zero, like folding wingtips, yet all three were based on A6M3 Model 22 Manufacture Numbers.

Built for flying, all mounted P&W R-1830 engines. All three were assigned 'real' Zero identies, it is unclear if these were selected from the recovered wreckage or parts from Babo. The completed aircraft were:

1) A6M3 Model 22 Zero 3869 Tail X-133 (Replica)
2) A6M2 Model 21 Zero
3852 - Two Seat Version (Replica)
3) A6M3 Model 22 Zero 3858 (Replica)

 


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