Yokosuka D4Y1, 7483
History
Serial number 7483 holds a special place in the history of the Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei. This aircraft was one of the last D4Y1s to be produced, and it survived the war as a part of a limited number of airframes that managed to endure through combat and post-war conditions.
The plane was originally captured by Allied forces at the end of the war. Following its capture, it was brought to the United States for examination and study. At that time, many Japanese aircraft were being evaluated by the U.S. military to understand their performance and capabilities. The aircraft eventually found its way into civilian hands, where it was preserved as a part of aviation history.
The D4Y1 Suisei serial 7483 eventually came into the possession of the Planes of Fame Air Museum, located in Chino, California. As one of the most important collections of historical aircraft in the world, the museum took great care in restoring the aircraft to its original state.
The restoration process was a challenging one due to the rarity of the Suisei and the limited availability of original parts. Many components of the aircraft had to be custom-fabricated or sourced from other aircraft types. Despite these challenges, the skilled team at the Planes of Fame Air Museum managed to bring the aircraft back to life, restoring it to its historical glory.
The Suisei 7483 was fully restored to a flying condition, and in 1991, it made its public debut at the museum. It is one of the very few Suiseis in the world that still exists in a condition that allows it to fly, making it an invaluable piece of World War II aviation history.