Rise and Fall of the Zero

As RC modelers often do, it’s fun to review and compare the flying abilities of the WW II warbirds, and aviation historians generally agree that for the first couple years of the war, the Zero was about the most capable fighter there was. Its clean design, sufficient armament and very light weight made it highly maneuverable and tough to beat. But as the Allied forces came up with more powerful and betterperforming aircraft, the Zero didn’t change, and the Japanese Air Force lost many of its most experienced and skilled pilots due to the lack of pilot protection and self-sealing fuel tanks in their planes. By the end of the war, there were a number of fighter aircraft that outperformed the Zero and did a better job of protecting pilots.