Mitsubishi A6M Model 21, 1498, "A1-1-1-129"

History
This particular Zero was manufactured by Nakajima in 1941 and was later recovered in 1965 from the jungle on Ballale Island in the Solomon Islands. The aircraft was found largely intact, providing a rare opportunity for restoration. In 1994, the Blayd Corporation of Canada initiated a comprehensive restoration project, investing an estimated 60,000 man-hours and producing over 14,000 new parts. Mitsubishi Corporation contributed original blueprints and engineering support to aid in the restoration process .
The restoration was completed in the early 2000s, with the aircraft being sold to a consortium led by Jerry Beck. The team installed a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engine to enhance reliability and equipped the aircraft with modern instruments and hydraulics. The Zero was painted to represent A6M2 Zero 6544, tail code A1-1-129, which was shot down over Russell Island on February 4, 1943. This paint scheme was chosen because it is one of the few documented Nakajima-built A6M2s for which both the tail code and serial number are known.
The aircraft was registered as N8280K by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and made its first flight on July 29, 2004. It was initially displayed at the Fargo Air Museum from 2004 to 2011 .
In early 2011, the Zero was sold to Last Samurai LLC in Dover, Delaware. Since March 18, 2011, it has been displayed at the Texas Flying Legends Museum and flown in air shows, often piloted by Warren Pietsch.
In the spring of 2016, while on the ground, the Zero was damaged when a Corsair's propeller struck its rear fuselage and stabilizer. The aircraft was sent to AirCorps Aviation for repairs, which included subtle corrections to the markings.The restoration was completed without the extensive 5,000 hours of work initially estimated .