A rare Japanese Zero fighter will be the star attraction at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International airshow this Easter. The nimble fighter is expected to attract aircraft enthusiasts from far and wide as there are only three airworthy examples in the world.

The aircraft is being transported from the United States in a special container and will be assembled at Wanaka Airport. The announcement of its appearance here follows months of delicate negotiations with the aircrafts' owners.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have this unique aircraft as the centre piece to this year's airshow," said Mandy Deans, Event Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka.

The Mitsubishi Zero fighter is one of the World War II classic fighter planes and was feared by Allied airmen in the Pacific. It was designed by Jiro Horikoshi and when it was introduced into service was the best carrier-based fighter in the world. Its design combined excellent manoeuvrability and very long range.

Japanese Zeros were used in the raid on Pearl Harbour and later it was utilised for kamikaze operations. In all eleven thousand Zeros were produced between 1940 and 1945. Today a few exist in museums around the world but it is believed only two still remain flying.

In September 1945 the RNZAF recovered a Zero at Bougainville and after shipping to New Zealand it was only flown once from Woodbourne. It is now exhibited in the Auckland Museum, therefore this will be only the second time a Zero has flown in New Zealand.

The Zero will perform on all three days at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow and will join around 65 other aircraft on display on April 2, 3 and 4th at Wanaka Airport.

Photos attached. Photos labelled EVG please credit to Eric Van Gilder.

Photo labelled July08 FltLKineAirShootAFred please credit to Asahari "Fred" Fujimoto.

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