Mossie : The Plane That Saved Britain

[Evalu8ter]

Unixman,
I dare say Donitz's U-Boat screen would not have been in the Channel; more like the North Sea and SW approaches to deter/prevent capital ships entering the Channel - the E-Boats would be a second screen for 'leakers'. Good point re Destroyers and light cruisers - I wonder if the Kriegsmarine would have committed any capital ships into the shallow/restricted waters? Perhaps Panzerschiffs on the flanks?

Maybe the biggest question mark is if there was ever a serious intent to invade. To strip the UK of her aircover and pulverise by bombing seems the preferred route, with the threat of invasion as a 'nudge'. It must be remembered that significant elements of the UK Establishment were keen on a 'deal' to preserve their status and the Empire.

[Unixman]

I agree with your last point. In many respects Churchill's most important victory was not against Hitler, but against Halifax who wanted to come to terms with the Germans. Halifax was no collaborationist but an old fashioned patriot who wanted to save as much of "olde England" as he could. Churchill's triumph in forcing the war cabinet to continue fightingthe war til the bitter end was one of the turning points of the war.

(See Five Days In London, May 1940 by John Lukas for a riveting description of the political battles that occurred then)

[gr4techie]

I reckon it was the Soviet infantry soldier in the eastern front that won the war. We in the west were a mere distraction.

[CoffmanStarter]

I thought the programme was rather good ... clearly the young man presenting was a bit overwhelmed at the end during his trip ... he certainly wasn't doing a "loop".

Anyone got any gen on the possibility of a Mossie flying here in the UK ?

[NutLoose]

I am lead to believe the plan was it was originally going to be delivered via Flying Legends but wasn't allowed in UK Airspace as it hadn't been rebuilt to an acceptable standard here... iE no CAA input..

Several others are undergoing rebuild, including in Canada.
Jerry Yeagen the owner of the one in the film put a lot of his collection up for sale recently citing he could no longer afford to do it anymore.. The B-17 and FW190 have already gone, the rest of the fliers were slated for sale too
See

Jerry Yagen Military Aviation Museum Collection for Sale

Va. Beach museum owner selling plane collection | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com


The BAe one where the engine quit was down to a faulty assembled unit if I remember correctly, not negative G as the cause..

[GeeRam]

Anyone got any gen on the possibility of a Mossie flying here in the UK ?

I'd say slim to none, given what those that actually know an awful lot about it say.

It cost Yagen in excess if US$7m to put KA114 back in the air, and he didn't need to do it with any CAA certification considerations.

So, if anyone has at least £10m in cash laying around, plus access to an identity and many of the metal components parts that Yagen had so much trouble searching out for KA114, then it's possible.....I wouldn't hold my breath though.

My gut feeling is, a UK airworthy Mossie ended with RR299's demise.

[CoffmanStarter]

Thanks Nutty

Would be really great to see one flying on the UK circuit ... something useful the National Lottery should fund ... either that or it's another PPRuNe whip round

[NutLoose]

Further to that

1st Confirmed Warbird Sales From Jerry Yagen Military Aviation Museum

I did think the young lad narrating was very good, and passionate.

[Peter G-W]

Merlin Exhaust Stubs

The engines on the Mosquito featured only seem to have 5 exhaust stubs per bank. Anybody know why this is? Or am I very much mistaken?

[longer ron]

The engines on the Mosquito featured only seem to have 5 exhaust stubs per bank. Anybody know why this is? Or am I very much mistaken?

Peter I think that the rear 2 exhausts are 'siamesed' so as not to scorch the plywood !
rgds LR

[NutLoose]

AAIB report into the loss of the BAe Mossie

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...pdf_501355.pdf

[green granite]

The BAe one where the engine quit was down to a faulty assembled unit if I remember correctly, not negative G as the cause..

From the AAIB report:



Summary and discussion
The investigation established that the accident resulted from a loss of control of the aircraft associated with a temporary loss of power from the left engine. The nature of the accident site, plus the high degree of fragmentation of the wreckage meant that some potentially useful items, such as the fuel filters and the left engine propeller control unit, were not recovered. Thus,although the possibility of fuel line or fuel filter blockage could not be ruled out, such an event would more probably manifest itself at higher fuel flows, such as during take off or climb to altitude. A PCU
malfunction may have caused the observed RPM excursion of the left-hand propeller close to the apex of the final wing over, but it is unlikely this would have resulted in an immediate power reduction to the observed extent indicated by the left yaw.

[RedhillPhil]

Originally Posted by Peter G-W

The engines on the Mosquito featured only seem to have 5 exhaust stubs per bank. Anybody know why this is? Or am I very much mistaken?

Having myself asked this question I can give you the reason.
The rear two exhausts were channelled into one because of space considerations in the wing mount. The later versions with the twin turbo-supercharges as used in - for example - the PR XIX had lengthened nacelles and so had space for the full six exhaust stubs.
Unfortunately I missed the programme as I was wending my way home from Fairford with number one son.

[Peter G-W]

Ron, Phil

Thanks for the info.

Peter

[Dengue_Dude]

Wasn't that the aircraft that was rebuilt in NZ?

Would've been nice if he mentioned that. I can quite understand why he choked up in the aircraft, good luck to him. Well done the guys that got him airborne, bet they wouldn't have done that in UK - too many JobsWorths.

Either way, what a beautiful aeroplane. I remember seeing them still flying when I was a kid, so it's nice to see (and hear) them again.

[500N]

The actual RR299 accident is on Youtube from start to near the finish with very clear footage and good engine noise.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Flat Spin

Thanks NutLoose - sad news. Any idea who was the PIC?

Kevin Moorhouse.

Other crew member lost with RR299 was Steve Watson.

[spekesoftly]

Repeat

Originally Posted by RedhillPhil

Unfortunately I missed the programme ...........

You might like to watch the repeat on Monday 22 July 2013 at 20:00 BST on 4seven.

(Freeview Ch47; Freesat Ch127; Sky Ch140; Virgin Ch195)

[XV490]

Having watched the programme last night, I can't see it doing much to swell the coffers at the Mosquito/DH museum next to Salisbury Hall (off the M25), whose collection the presenter seemed (to me) to suggest was rotting away.
I went there a couple of years back and thought it was splendid - well worth a visit, not just for its Mosquitos but all the other DH exhibits.

[AR1]

Enjoyed it, but felt the addition of the crash sequence was unecessary. The display ac was flying a manouvre which was never going to be attempted on a first flight. It's inclusion was simply to add unneeded drama to a clearly emotional first flight. Other than that- good show!