Topic: Mosquito Aircraft Restoration

One regret I've always had is that I never got to see a DH Mosquito in flight - but that looks like it may change

Glyn Powell of New Zealand has spent the last 20 years building new jigs and other tools to build new Mosquitos! They are apparently identical to the originals but use modern adhesives and have a strengthened leading edge.

Quite an amazing story!

Some links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mosquito-Aircraft-Restoration/234517788328
http://www.mossie.org/articles/CWD/Mos.html
http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-11-24_mosquito.asp

Richard

Mods, apologies if I've posted in the wrong area - please move it if so

One regret I've always had is that I never got to see a DH Mosquito in flight - but that looks like it may change

One of the few occasions when I can dust off the old Smug Git smiley

The Mossie used to come to call at the airfield where I worked in the 70s & 80s.   There you would be minding your own business going about your work when suddenly ears would twitch - is that a Merlin?  No quick, it's two in close formation!
Working in a hanger facing on to the runway, it would have been extremely rude not to go outside and watch    Absolutely lovely and such a tragedy when it and the crew were lost. 

Glyn Powell of New Zealand has spent the last 20 years building new jigs and other tools to build new Mosquitos! They are apparently identical to the originals but use modern adhesives and have a strengthened leading edge.

Very interesting article about him and them(!) in a recent (it might even still be the current) issue of Aeroplane.

Can't wait but probably best not to hold your breath!

Alan

Jerry Yagen's KA114 is currently sat on it's wheels (which have had retraction tests) with engines installed with a possibility of flying this year 

Glynn Powell had a large input to this aircraft, insomuch as all the woodwork is new from his moulds and jigs.

It's being built by Avspecs in New Zealand.



Bob Jens' CF-HML is likely to be second into the air, and last year TV959 was delivered to Avspecs too 

What happened to Kermit Weeks one that he purchased from the Strathalan Collection & was flown to his place in Florida, is that no longer airworthy?

I saw a few Mossies in my time including the ill fated one that was written off at Duxford.

My main memory was in 1963 whilst working in Romford and sitting outside at lunchtime, the unmistakable sound of Merlin's made me look up, where to my surprise and joy there were about 4 or 5 Mosquito's overhead that were being flown out to film the film 633 Squadron. A site never to be forgotten.
Good job they are using modern adhesives as they had to be withdrawn in the Far East initially due to joints failing, even bad workmanship or it was suggested sabotage. One CO had them checked out before allowing his crews to fly them and found poor scarf jointing on the wing spars plus other faults. This led to them being replaced by Beaufighters, that had been withdrawn for Mosquito replacement!

The Weeks one is currently on long term loan to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh I believe.

The "Duxford" Mosquito crash happened at Barton, near Manchester in July 1996 following an engine failure due to an incorrectly set-up carburrettor. That in itself seemed to be a misunderstanding between the company who overhauled it and the operators. Ultimately, nobody set-up the stops on the float chamber which were there to prevent total closure of the float during negative G. Localised negative G is possible on the engines of the Mossie and other twins as roll is initiated or arrested.

RS712 is the TT.35 that lived at Strathallan for a while before going to Kermit Weeks. Like the other aircraft of his I've seen, it was left to deteriorate a lot and the Florida climate pretty much wiped out any chance of that ever flying again.

I know lots of people blow sunshine up Kermit Week's backside but I've been there and seen his aeroplanes and he's a disgrace because they're all dogs. He claims to have lots of unique airworthy examples, e.g. the B-26 which was pretty battered and had rusty oleos. The Short Sandringham he also boats was likewise dogeared with torn fabric all over it. I could understand lack of funding etc but his tour guide was proudly boasting that Weeks never sells anything from his hoard unless you've got something better to trade - so basically lots of aeroplanes are rotting in a state of neglect, owned by someone who won't let them go to better homes because he doesn't need the money from selling them. Thanks for taking care of our history Kermit... 

The "Duxford" Mosquito crash happened at Barton, near Manchester in July 1996 following an engine failure due to an incorrectly set-up carburrettor. That in itself seemed to be a misunderstanding between the company who overhauled it and the operators. Ultimately, nobody set-up the stops on the float chamber which were there to prevent total closure of the float during negative G. Localised negative G is possible on the engines of the Mossie and other twins as roll is initiated or arrested.

RS712 is the TT.35 that lived at Strathallan for a while before going to Kermit Weeks. Like the other aircraft of his I've seen, it was left to deteriorate a lot and the Florida climate pretty much wiped out any chance of that ever flying again.

I know lots of people blow sunshine up Kermit Week's backside but I've been there and seen his aeroplanes and he's a disgrace because they're all dogs. He claims to have lots of unique airworthy examples, e.g. the B-26 which was pretty battered and had rusty oleos. The Short Sandringham he also boats was likewise dogeared with torn fabric all over it. I could understand lack of funding etc but his tour guide was proudly boasting that Weeks never sells anything from his hoard unless you've got something better to trade - so basically lots of aeroplanes are rotting in a state of neglect, owned by someone who won't let them go to better homes because he doesn't need the money from selling them. Thanks for taking care of our history Kermit... 

Thanks for correcting me on the Mossie crash. Time does not help the memory as I thought it was at Duxford, but I did see it peform there a few times before the admission prices went sky high.
I also saw it landing at Leavesden on one occasion in the early 90's when I was repping & visiting RR there.
Return home there, as I believe they were built their during the war.

Shame to hear of the state of exhibits that KW has in Florida, as he has some very rare types which you would think need to be preserved properly.

Jamie, I think you are being a bid hard on Kermit Weeks.  I know that everything he has isn't perfect, but having toured his museum (the best reason to visit Florida that I can think of!) on a restoration day where I was able to discuss various restorations (in the workshops close up with the individual aircraft) with the guys actually doing the work I can assure you that much does get restored to an excellent state.  It's a shame that the Sunderland/Sandringham isn't hangared though ...