Biggin Hill Mosquito
Just spotted this on Flypast:
https://www.facebook.com/BigginHillH...angar/?fref=nf Wow! Wonderful news and best wishes to the team with this fantastic endeavour. |
Absolutely and having worked with these guys on their 2-seat Spitfire at Duxford this year, you couldn't wish to meet a more professional and pleasant team of engineers and pilots.
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I hope that they can stick it together with proper epoxy glues instead of the CAA insisting they shoot a load of horses.
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FED - I am with you on that, and it would be fantastic to see a Mosquito fly again in the UK
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There might be another flying Mosquito in the works The Plan | The People's Mosquito
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I wish them well, but it needs to be stressed that they are building a Mosquito replica, not a Mosquito.
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...okay, slight "thread drift", but it still concerns Biggin Hill and a (flying) De Havilland Mosquito... :ok: :cool: ;)
https://flyaspitfire.com/2023/02/06/...t-biggin-hill/ LATEST NEWS FEBRUARY 6, 2023 Mosquito at Biggin Hill – announcement by Peter Monk, Managing Director of flyaspitfire.com and the Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill): “Following previous announcements and patiently waiting for availability in a busy restoration programme we’re delighted to confirm that we’ve now commissioned the team at AVSPECS NZ to commence the restoration of a Mosquito FB.VI . Upon completion the aircraft will join our fleet of 2 seat Spitfires and other WWII aircraft that are available for flight experiences here at Biggin Hill. The team at AVSPECS are leaders in the field of Mosquito restoration and this will be the 5th airframe that they have restored to an airworthy condition. The restoration is scheduled to take 3 years and once completed the aircraft will complete a commemorative tour of New Zealand, Australia and then on to the UK in honour of the Commonwealth pilots that flew Mosquitos in WWII. We believe this will be the only airworthy example of the Mosquito in Europe :!: and we’re excited at the prospect of offering members of the public the chance to ‘Fly a Mosquito’ from Biggin Hill in 2026.” |
This would make a great addition to the 'What Made You Happy Today' thread. :ok: :)
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Originally Posted by Wander00
(Post 9170596)
FED - I am with you on that, and it would be fantastic to see a Mosquito fly again in the UK
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Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
(Post 9178080)
I wish them well, but it needs to be stressed that they are building a Mosquito replica, not a Mosquito.
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Originally Posted by Stratofreighter
(Post 11381062)
...okay, slight "thread drift", but it still concerns Biggin Hill and a (flying) De Havilland Mosquito... :ok: :cool: ;)
https://flyaspitfire.com/2023/02/06/...t-biggin-hill/ https://flyaspitfire.com/2023/02/06/...t-biggin-hill/ https://flyaspitfire.com/2023/02/06/...t-biggin-hill/ https://flyaspitfire.com/2023/02/06/...t-biggin-hill/ Would be a crying shame if so, to 'convert' this into a FB.VI, instead of its original B.IV configuration, especially given the rarity of the B.IV. I can't think of any other Mossie project available, given they say it will be the 5th Mossie by AvSpec, and there was confirmation by Maurice Denholm of AvSpec last month and photo's posted of the former Glyn Powell owned, FB.26 in the hangar was being started on for a US customer, which will clearly be the 4th one they have done. Even doing two alongside each other, I'd be surprised if they can do both in 3 years timescale, even having already done 3 of them. Or I wonder if Maurice Denholm was being evasive by saying the ex-Glyn Powell FB.26 was for a US customer, and this is the one for Biggin Hill? However, if so, it would be the 4th one not the 5th one? This FB.26 (Aussie built FB.6) was the project that was supposed to have been that the Pathfinder Trust had acquired but who seemed to have disappeared now without trace. |
We believe this will be the only airworthy example of the Mosquito in Europe :!: and we’re excited at the prospect of offering members of the public the chance to ‘Fly a Mosquito’ from Biggin Hill in 2026.” or "Fly in a Mosquito" ? :O |
Have seen suggestions that the BHHH FB.6 announcement may be the parts remains/identity of FB.6 TE881 that was acquired by AvSpecs from the late John Smith's estate.
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Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
(Post 9178080)
I wish them well, but it needs to be stressed that they are building a Mosquito replica, not a Mosquito.
Further, the sandwich style construction doesn't really allow the wood bits to be disassembled and re-assembled with modern glues. |
DaveReid,
I disagree. If you rebuild an aircraft and have to manufacture some parts, it’s not a replica. Of course, in the case of a Mosquito, that’s the wings, fuselage and empennage, but if the metal bits are original, then it’s a rebuild. 😄 |
Originally Posted by India Four Two
(Post 11382602)
DaveReid,
I disagree. If you rebuild an aircraft and have to manufacture some parts, it’s not a replica. Of course, in the case of a Mosquito, that’s the wings, fuselage and empennage, but if the metal bits are original, then it’s a rebuild. 😄 |
DRUK,ref#12,room for another in `super-economy...the bomb-bay`....
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Originally Posted by tdracer
(Post 11382586)
Unfortunately, it seems that is as about as good as it's going to get if you want a Mosquito to be 'airworthy'. Seems the original glues that they used don't age very gracefully, so any original Mosquitos don't have the necessary structural integrity to be airworthy, even if 'rot' isn't an issue.
Despite many claims that Kermit Weeks B.35 (RS712) needs new wings, I believe from those that know Mossie's and have seen it in recent times, if he so chose to, its still in good enough condition structurally, to be returned to the air, despite it spending a couple of years in the heat and humidity of Florida before being flown off to a more suitable long term storage climate. |
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
(Post 11382628)
Fair point - there are plenty of "rebuilt" Spitfires flying around where the best that can be said is that the serial number plate is original ... :O
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Originally Posted by India Four Two
(Post 11382602)
DaveReid,
I disagree. If you rebuild an aircraft and have to manufacture some parts, it’s not a replica. Of course, in the case of a Mosquito, that’s the wings, fuselage and empennage, but if the metal bits are original, then it’s a rebuild. 😄 The People's Mosquito on the other hand, is going to be pretty much a replica, as what amounts to a data plate was dug out of a whole in the ground. They aren't even returning it to its NF.30 configuration either (if it ever gets finished) From the photos I've seen, I'm not sure there was an awful lot left of TE881 that John Smith acquired the remains of many decades ago, and which AvSpecs have acquired from the estate, and which is likely providing the identity of the BHHH FB.6, although more than the TPM example. Much easier for AvSpecs to make what there isn't though, if built alongside the substantially complete ex-Glyn Powell project, not something TPM have access to in the same way. |
The rebuild vs replica argument will carry on for a long while I think. For me, the prospect of a Mosquito, especially a bomber, flying in the UK is the real potential treat.
By the way, a few years ago I was in the museum in Edmonton where they have a Mossie dressed up as Russ Bannock's (?) machine, complete with four gun nose. What jarred with me was that it had two stage Merlin engines, just like the one's used in 633 Squadron and Mosquito Squadron years ago. Apologies for nit-picking. Now off to dry clean my anorak again...... |
Quite a few years ago now, I was lucky enough to have a well-connected friend at Ardmore. We wandered down to Avspecs to have a look at KA114, the first Mosquito they had rebuilt.
My friend John said to one of the engineers that he knew: "Can we have a look?" "Sure hop in." That's how I got to sit in the cockpit of an airworthy Mosquito. Unfortunately I never got to see it fly. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a1638af6cc.jpg Here's my well connected friend, John. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5c681cb21e.jpg One of my treasured photos. A very poor quality picture but those are my knees! It's interesting that the bomber variants have control wheels, but the fighter variants have sticks. I thoroughly recommend these videos where Warren Denholme from Avspecs describes how it is built and Keith Skilling, one of the test pilots, is explaining what it is like to fly a Mosquito, after they both flew to Tauranga from Ardmore: Mosquito Rescue: Flying the Mozzie: |
Originally Posted by bobward
(Post 11382774)
The rebuild vs replica argument will carry on for a long while I think. For me, the prospect of a Mosquito, especially a bomber, flying in the UK is the real potential treat.
Both the Peoples Mosquito project, and this new BHHH project are both solid nose FB/NF versions.
Originally Posted by bobward
(Post 11382774)
By the way, a few years ago I was in the museum in Edmonton where they have a Mossie dressed up as Russ Bannock's (?) machine, complete with four gun nose.
What jarred with me was that it had two stage Merlin engines, just like the one's used in 633 Squadron and Mosquito Squadron years ago. Apologies for nit-picking. Now off to dry clean my anorak again...... |
GeeRam,
Thanks for the corrections and comments. I didn't realise how long the B35 had been on display. There are some other real treasures in that museum as well. In fact there are a whole series of amazing museums over in Canada that I've been lucky enough to see over several visits across the pond. |
Originally Posted by GeeRam
(Post 11382651)
Despite many claims that Kermit Weeks B.35 (RS712) needs new wings, I believe from those that know Mossie's and have seen it in recent times, if he so chose to, its still in good enough condition structurally, to be returned to the air, despite it spending a couple of years in the heat and humidity of Florida before being flown off to a more suitable long term storage climate.
Incidentally, Jerry Yagens brought his Mosquito (as well as his ME-262 and FW190, but that’s another story) up to the Hamilton, Ontario air show about ten years ago. I was fortunate to be able to get up into the cockpit and I must say, the detail and quality of what the NZ rebuilders produce is utterly astonishing. During the flying display, it was marvelous to watch the Mosquito, FW190 and ME-262 stern chase each other around the airfield. |
I believe Weeks’ Mosquito has been stored and displayed in a controlled environment hangar in Oshkosh for several decades. DeHavilland Mosquito - Tour Part 1 - Kermie Cam |
Originally Posted by Commander Taco
(Post 11383215)
I believe Weeks’ Mosquito has been stored and displayed in a controlled environment hangar in Oshkosh for several decades. At least that’s what his staff at his Fantasy of Flight Museum in Florida told me.
Funnily enough, I visited his old small Tamiami facility back in 1989, so, only 2 years or so since it had made the ferry flight over from UK, and the Mossie was sitting inside the blister hangar, but with the front open to elements, so very hot and humid. After a nostalgic look around the Mossie, (as had seen it in UK on several occasions) I went into the small gift shop, and low and behold, Kermit was manning the till in the gift shop. I asked outright if he wasn't concerned, given the nature of the problems they suffered in the Far East during service, that the similar conditions in Florida might soon render it unairworthy. He was rather surprised, somewhat dissmissive of the suggestion, citing his soon to be grand plan, which was Fantasy of Flight, and air conditioned facility etc. However, it was interesting that within another year or two, he had flown the aircraft to EAA and has left it there ever since. |
Hmmm, you can now get wooden fountain pens made out of wood gleaned from original stringers/spars of Mosquito KA114, now airworthy with Jerry Yagen in Virginia.
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Originally Posted by treadigraph
(Post 11391065)
Hmmm, you can now get wooden fountain pens made out of wood gleaned from original stringers/spars of Mosquito KA114, now airworthy with Jerry Yagen in Virginia.
Given the state of what was left of it after it had been sitting rotting away outside for 4 decades....it was no more than firewood really. |
It's interesting that the bomber variants have control wheels, but the fighter variants have sticks |
Originally Posted by megan
(Post 11391238)
Read somewhere that the fighter chaps wished it had been fitted with the bomber control wheel, better able to put in some muscle for maneuvering and provide steadier control for gun aiming.
After my very brief exposure to a two-seat Spitfire doing no more than 250 kts, I felt that the spade grip would be essential at higher speeds, since you would need two hands to roll it - the ailerons were very heavy. |
Originally Posted by GeeRam
(Post 11391160)
Good idea really.
Given the state of what was left of it after it had been sitting rotting away outside for 4 decades....it was no more than firewood really. |
Originally Posted by treadigraph
(Post 11391065)
Hmmm, you can now get wooden fountain pens made out of wood gleaned from original stringers/spars of Mosquito KA114, now airworthy with Jerry Yagen in Virginia.
That might be a cool keepsake... |
Not sure that I should supply a direct link - google Wig and Pens, they can be found under pens/military!
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Like the P-38 Lightning P-38F Tactical Trials |
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