The Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (other names: Zero or Zeke) is a Japanese single-engine all-metal low-flying fighter of the Second World War. The first prototype flew on April 1, 1939 and entered service in the summer of 1940. Early prototypes were powered by the Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 engine, but from the A6M2 model 11 onwards, the 950 hp Nakajima NK1B Sakae 12 engine was used, making the aircraft one of the best early war fighters. Immediately before and during the war, the following versions were created. One of the most famous was the A6M2 model 21 prepared at the beginning of the Pacific War - a special version with folding wings designed for aircraft carriers, which became the basic Japanese ship-based fighter. The next versions were the A6M3 and A6M5, each of which had several sub-versions. The first of them used a Nakajima Sakae 21 engine with a capacity of 1130 hp. with a compressor, which, however, meant an increase in weight and a decrease in range and maneuverability. In the A6M5 version, this problem was tried to be solved by changing the exhaust system, changing the shape of the wings and refusing to fold them, which increased the maximum speed. This version first flew in 1943 and was produced until the end of the war. It is worth noting that one of the most popular versions of the A6M5 was the A6M5C Model 52C ŤHeiť aircraft, of which almost 5,000 were produced. The Zeros saw service throughout the Pacific War, serving mainly as carrier-based fighters, but also largely as army fighters. The "father" of this famous aircraft was the engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who was based on the experience gained while working on the M5A aircraft. He managed to develop a very maneuverable aircraft with excellent aerodynamic properties, ideal for wheeled combat and with a long flight range. However, this was achieved due to armor and the absence of self-sealing fuel tanks. In addition, due to the lack of aircraft engines with power comparable to American machines, with each year of the war, the "Zero" evolved from a "superplane" starting in 1943 to a weaker rival of the P-51, P-47 or F -4 or F - 6. It also turned out to be a damage-sensitive machine and very vulnerable to fire. However, this does not change the fact that by 1943 the Allies had no aircraft that could compete with the A6M Zero. Technical data (version A6M2 model 21): length: 9.06 m, wingspan: 12 m,
