How to build a replica Mosquito?

[FantomZorbin]

An idle question.

Having just watched a program on the capabilities of the Mossie I wondered what, apart from shed loads of money, would be required to build a replica Mosquito to scale and from scratch with Merlin engines. Presumably BAerospace would be the design authority and the structure would be mainly carbon fibre. Then, of course, the CAA/EASA would be significant hurdles. Only a dream, buth wouldn't it be nice though!

I just want to be prepared for when I win on the Euromillions:}

[Groundloop]

If it was a replica it should be built of wood, not carbon fibre!:ok:

Also, building it from wood would probably be much simpler. Carbon fibre requires moulds/autoclaves, etc.

[Noah Zark.]

It certainly would! When you do it, if you've any bits left over kicking about knock me up a replica D.H.103 Hornet, would you? There's a good chap! :ok:

[FantomZorbin]

Groundloop. I agree, but I was thinking that the CAA would be a bit sniffy about that; wood would be easier to source, just nip round to Jewsons :E

Noah It's a deal :ok:

[Wander00]

One built and flying at Fontenay le Comte, southern end of the Vendee, three-quarter scale. I will try and find the link and post it.

[Wander00]

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/447998-mosquito-restoration-projects

Links to video of French replica above
Notre projet - Le Mosquito de Michel Bogaert Association RRAA (http://bogaert.jimdo.com/notre-projet/) link to project web site

[Hipper]

Visit the Mosquito Museum. They do this sort of work:

Mosquito Aircraft Museum - de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre (http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/)

[henry crun]

Also see Mosquito Aircraft Restoration, Auckland New Zealand (http://www.mosquitorestoration.com/)

Considering what he has already achieved, plus what and how the work continues, I would say it is a replica rather than a restoration.

[barit1]

Check out the prior Mossie thread (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/447998-mosquito-restoration-projects.html#post6416171)

[Genghis the Engineer]

Entirely do-able within the UK system; you'd need to get CAA on-board from the start and it would be Annex II so exempt from any EASA involvement.

If you design a new aeroplane that happens to look like a Mosquito that would be quite different to a true replica.

The new aeroplane would probably need certifying through LAA to an agreed subset of CS.23 and would be no different to designing any other homebuilt through them. Broadly, this is what has happened with the Australian 70% Spitfire replicas we've been seeing in recent years.

The replica would probably need certifying to PtF directly through projects at Gatwick - you'd get away with something less compliant with modern standards, but you'd have to go to great lengths to show it matched the original design as far as possible. This has been the case with most WW1 replicas.

Either way, build control, inspection and testing through build, then flight testing after build would be pretty large jobs. But it's been done before and doubtless can and will be done again.

Sort of thing I have been known to do for a living in the past (the certification and testing, not the design and build, but it all bundles together). If you've got half a million or so to spare, and fancy luring me away from my day job, I'm open to offers.

G

[johndeverill]

Hmm now this had made very interesting reading as I have been contemplating the very same idea for a while.

My actual idea is to scale the size of the mossie down to more of a 4 seat light aircraft as it would be more of a mossie experience as opposed to a replica.

Lack of bomb load, composite lightweighting etc would also allow the use of smaller engines than the orginal merlins. Still got 12 pistons in mind.

I also like the idea of a wood/carbon hybrid. Being a composites engineer I tend to come up with all sorts of weird and wonderful ideas in this respect!

What would you prefer to fly....a standard light aircraft or a small scale, beautiful Mosquito?

Now I'm off to find some funding and manufacturers to take part in this collaborative effort to highlight great British engineering achievements!!!!

John

[treadigraph]

John, many years ago (1977?) when I first wandered down to Redhill, I noticed a pair of wings in a garden as I walked from Nutfield station to the aerodrome. Apparently these were from a Gemini and were intended to be the basis of a scale Mossie replica. Wonder what became of the project...?

Back at home, dug out me old log - the Gemini was G-AJTH.