FSX Japanese Zero Nishikaichi

Textures only of the WWII Fighters A6M5 from A2A. The textures are in DXT5 bmp format and have been tested only in FSX SP2 Acceleration, running in Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. The livery depicted in this repaint is that of PO 1c Shigenori Nishikaichi, who flew in the second wave from the IJN carrier Hiryu, in the attack on Pearl Harbor, HI, 7 December, 1941. The livery itself is historically accurate, with the "minor" exception that Nishikaichi's machine was an A6M2, Type 0 Model 21, rather than the later A6M5. However, the A2A simulations model presents one of the best available Zeros of any sort for use in FSX and has an excellent paint kit available for it produced by Martin Catney. There are a couple of models of the A6M2 available, for which paints of this particular livery are in progress. These will include versions for FSX, CFS2 and CFS3.

One of the driving factors leading to this repaint is the story behind it, one that is often over-looked in the larger drama that took place over Oahu that day. After making several strafing runs, and surviving a brief melee with P-36s, Nishikaichi discovered that his machine had received slight damage. Unfortunately for him, the "slight" damage most likely included several holes through his fuel tanks. He realized that at the rate he was losing fuel, he would not make it back to the Hiryu and he proceeded to make his way to Niihau, Hawaii's western-most large island. He and his squadron mates had been briefed prior to the mission that Niihau was uninhabited and that they were to make their way there if necessary and wait to be picked up by an IJN submarine. As he overflew Niihau, Nishikaichi discovered that Niihau was in fact inhabited and that much of the island’s land-able area had been furrowed to prevent unauthorized landings by aircraft. After making a couple of circuits he found a place that would be his best bet and attempted his landing. He caught a wire fence going in and crash landed. Although he survived the crash landing, he ultimately did not survive his encounter with the inhabitants of the island. The full story ends up being a rather significant side-note in American internal politics of the time and is fully recounted in the book “The Niihau Incident” by Allan Beekman (1995).

Included in package are several images of the "reconstructed" livery, the crash site and Nishikaichi himself. For additional information regarding the story and aircraft I have included links to several websites below.

Installation:

Copy and paste the following text into the aircraft.cfg, being sure to replace the "XX" with the next number in the sequence.

[fltsim.XX]
title=A6M5 Zero Nishikaichi
sim=a6m5
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=Nishikaichi
KB_checklists=a6m5_check
kb_reference=a6m5_ref
ui_manufacturer=WWII FIGHTERS
ui_type=A6M5 Zero
ui_variation=Nishikaichi
ui_typerole="Single Engine Prop"
ui_createdby="Shockwave Productions Inc."
description=On December 7, 1941, the Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero, also known as the Zeke 52, was the most agile and effective carrier-based fighter aircraft on the planet. Designed to pre-war air combat standards which emphasized low-speed maneuverability, the Zero set the bar very high in many areas. It was extremely light and maneuverable, and packed a considerable wallop for the time. The plane carried 20mm cannon in the wings, and two 7.7 mm machine guns in the cowling, which were synchronized to fire through the propeller blades. It was a delight to fly, excelling at low and medium speed acrobatics. Because of its low wing loading, it could turn very tightly at low speeds without stalling, and had a turning radius of as little as 630 feet in the lower speed range. Today, the Zero shares the podium with the Spitfire Mk I and Messerschmitt 109E as one of the three finest aircraft in service at the outset of World War II.
atc_id_color=0x00000000
atc_heavy=0
atc_id_font=Verdana,-11,1,600,0
atc_parking_types=MIL_COMBAT
atc_id=653222
atc_airline=
atc_flight_number=
prop_anim_ratio=1.02
visual_damage=0

Acknowledgements and Credits:

Paint Kit: Martin Catney

IJN Aircraft Codes typeface: Goshikisen

Images:

As always, this repaint is freeware and not to be used in any commercial product. Please acknowledge the original painter (myself) as well the creators of the original paintkit, typeface, and A2A Simulations if you modify it.

William Bruce Ellis

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