The Zero, an Aussie design???

IIRC, the V-141 was a dog that would spin in an instant, and the V-143 was a "stretched" V-141 to try to cure the spin problem. I have heard them mentioned as inspiration for the Zero as well, but judging by the flight characteristics I highly doubt it.

Zero patterned from a p-26,ya sure it wasn't
a BE-2c?

[Billy_Bishop]

Not the P-26, supposedly the P-26's competition, a Hughs design that lost apparently when Howard failed to keep an appointment with the person responsible for choosing the next fighter design!!