Rebuilt Mosquito flies in New Zealand| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

pilotbraden Dork
10/2/12 3:14 p.m.

This is a very rare, fast airplane.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/2334-full.html#207417 There is a film here, a better one is in the Aukland discussion started by Jay.

An eight-year restoration project culminated with the first flights of what is now the world's only flyable de Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber in New Zealand. Mosquito KA114 flew from Ardmore Airport to Mangere on Thursday. It was the first time a Mosquito had flown since 1996 when the last surviving example crashed at the Barton Air Show in England. The aircraft is owned by Jerry Yagen, owner of Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach, Va., and after being displayed at Ardmore over the weekend is expected to be crated and shipped to Virginia. The restoration, which was practically a ground-up reconstruction, was done by Glyn Powell and Mike Tunnicliffe. (Video at right.)

Yagen bought the crumbling hull, which was built in Toronto in 1945, from a small British Columbia museum in 2004. The aircraft was reportedly stored outside for much of that time and not much was salvageable. Powell and Tunnicliffe had to re-create the massive molds used to shape the plywood for much of the airframe. Computerized woodworking equipment helped with the manufacture of smaller parts and the structure of the aircraft was ready after about three years. The good news is that the molds are reusable and more Mosquitoes are likely to be built. The airframe parts were moved to AvSpecs, a renowned warbird rebuilder at Ardmore for assembly and systems installation.

93EXCivic MegaDork
10/2/12 3:19 p.m.

Hotlink cause Mosquitos are awesome.

ST_ZX2 HalfDork
10/2/12 3:24 p.m.

One of the most beautiful twin-engine planes ever. Made of a plywood/balsa laminate, they were constructed by furniture-makers during the war, in an effort to conserve strategic resources/materials. Brilliant design. Brilliant result.

oldsaw PowerDork
10/2/12 3:35 p.m.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzJewwobCY&feature=player_embedded

NGTD Dork
10/2/12 3:42 p.m.

GOD I love the sound of Merlin's on the throttle!

I have also been able to see and hear the Lancaster owned by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum fly. Think 4 Merlin's all at the same time. I even got to get in it and talk to the pilot while it was in the hanger at Hamilton, ON.

Curmudgeon MegaDork
10/2/12 3:48 p.m.

From the Mosquito Wiki:

"In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war is over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked."

— Hermann Göring, 1943.[91][92]

Guess he didn't know about Joseph Lucas.

Geekspeed Reader
10/2/12 3:56 p.m.

This is awesome. I live close to Camarillo airport where they do a lot of this kind of work. It is awesome to see these old warbirds come back to life. The Mosquito is one of my favorites!

Lesley PowerDork
10/2/12 4:02 p.m.

My Dad flew Spitfires and Mosquitos as a squad leader in the RAF.

Rusted_Busted_Spit SuperDork
10/2/12 4:14 p.m.

Lesley wrote: My Dad flew Spitfires and Mosquitos as a squad leader in the RAF.

That is very cool.

spitfirebill UltraDork
10/2/12 5:31 p.m.

The eldest member of our British car club flew Mossies after he did a tour in B-24s. He passed away last year. Probably one of the most complex and interesting men I've ever had the pleasure to know.

Twin_Cam UltraDork
10/2/12 5:38 p.m.

Awesome plane. P51 with one Merlin=awesome. How do we improve upon that? Put two Merlins in something

oldtin SuperDork
10/2/12 5:46 p.m.

There was something on the hitler channel about these this past weekend - think the show was called narrow escapes - highlighted a raid on a prison in France with about a dozen of these flown by Aussie, NZ and Brit squadrons

Will Dork
10/2/12 6:16 p.m.

Awesome. Keep 'em flying!

Javelin MegaDork
10/2/12 6:44 p.m.

Wicked!

friedgreencorrado PowerDork
10/2/12 9:59 p.m.

TV show made before the older extant example crashed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf5IQEqQ8Ec&feature=related

As usual with yootubez, it's in more than one part.

Appleseed PowerDork
10/3/12 2:19 a.m.

Twin_Cam wrote: Awesome plane. P51 with one Merlin=awesome. How do we improve upon that? Put two Merlins in something

Or four.

Duke PowerDork
10/3/12 9:01 a.m.

ST_ZX2 wrote: One of the most beautiful **man-made objects** ever.

That's more like it.

pinchvalve UltimaDork
10/3/12 9:07 a.m.

Assuming you have the money and resources to do something like that in your retirement years, how do you have the skills? I tip my hat to those guys, truly amazing achievement.

DukeOfUndersteer UltimaDork
10/3/12 9:09 a.m.

That's my dad's favorite airplane growing up. Likes it more than a Spit...

stuart in mn PowerDork
10/3/12 9:46 a.m.

Twin_Cam wrote: Awesome plane. P51 with one Merlin=awesome. How do we improve upon that? Put two Merlins in something.

There are a few twin Mustangs out there - one is being restored here in Minnesota. http://www.johnweeks.com/p82/index.html

aircooled PowerDork
10/3/12 10:09 a.m.

Appleseed wrote:
Twin_Cam wrote: Awesome plane. P51 with one Merlin=awesome. How do we improve upon that? Put two Merlins in something
Or four.

I see your four Merlin's, and I raise you four Griffons:

stroker Dork
10/3/12 1:09 p.m.

In reply to stuart in mn:

Alas, the '82 had Allisons...

pilotbraden Dork
10/3/12 1:49 p.m.

In reply to stroker:

The P-82B had Packards. After the war Rolls Royce raised the royalty payments on the Merlin design and the Air Corps had North American install the Allisons in the later models.