Anonymous, 21.11.2022 16:25 "...it was later to be widely alleged that the Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen was based on the V-143..." Similar allegations were made concerning the Seversky 2PA (several of which were sold to Japan) and the Hughes H-1 racer. However, there was no truth to any of those allegations.

jcf, e-mail, 08.02.2021 06:14 Jiro Horikoshi didn't use the V-143 as a starting point for the A6M, the Northrop/Vought design has nothing to do with the Zero, even the landing gear claim is dubious.

John Kress, jwkress47@yahoo.com, 27.12.2020 16:21 Assuming that the Japanese designer used the Vought V-143 as a starting point he made excellent design changes to convert a plane no one wanted into a thoroughbred killing machine.

BHH, 15.04.2015 20:21 @ Blair. Yes, EXACTLY. Except the shape of the wing is very different. This one a straight leading edge, the Zero tapers both leading and trailing edges. Also the shape of the forward fuselage from the canopy to the engine is totally different. Also the shape of the vertical tail is dramatically different in taper than the zero. Also the aft fuselage below the tail is fatter on this than the zero. Also, as you said the razorback fuselage is totally different. Also the landing gear and wheel arrangement is reversed from the zero. But other than all that, yeah... um... totally the same.

blair, e-mail, 07.12.2014 02:57 It does look exactly like a razorback Zero! I think the USAAF just did not want to admit they turned down a good design!

joe, 29.08.2009 05:39 no comment

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