People's Mosquito/Airbus
 

A report in the current aviation press says that Airbus have agreed to support the People's Mosquito build project. Things are looking serious.

I'll believe it when I see it...........

I'm more interested in the People's Airbus. Will it have a sea grey underside, camouflaged topside, squadron code AZ-E and serial number KB267?

Yes. Spot on ! It will also along the fuselage carry the legend: " Not nearly as good as the Mossie but, we're working on it".

How many passengers will it take?

and a stencilled warning-do not use in hot countries?

It would great if they did sponsor restoration though because Mosquitoes seem to be sadly under represented in the war bird world. I think back to my childhood near Watford when they were making 633 sq and i saw not just one but a whole squadron (well almost) of them, what a sight and the NOISE!!! as they transmitted to and from Bovingdon

Radio turned up too loud ?? ;)

Will look forward to seeing a Mossie in action again!

Vividly remember being on the landing compass during compass swings on the CO’s Mossie at Little Rissington in the mid 60’s.

Awesome experience having those two huge props lurching towards you as the throttle’s were blipped and brakes jammed on to slew it round!

......character building?

Well, at least it should be easier to source 'the People's Airbus' as there are quite a few unemployed examples knocking around at present!

Aah........B.35 TA639 used on a regular basis from early 1963, just before its use in 633 Squadron filming, up until the end of 1965 by 'Birdy' Bird-Wilson against the wishes of just about everyone in higher command....as it had been deemed a RAF museum exhibit once it had finished filming in 633 Squadron...and had been declared Cat 5 as a museum exhibit and not to fly.
Rumour is that eventually the CFS Ground Engineering Wing deliberately sabotaged the aircraft, by placing it in Little Rissington’s only heated hangar, with the tail carefully positioned under a canvas hot air duct, with the desired effect of glue failure and loss of structural integrity. It failed a glue inspection in March '66, showing serious deterioration of the glue joints, only a mere 4 months since its last inspection which had showed no such issues.
TA639 has been on display at the museum at RAF Cosford since late 1969.

GeeRam: It seems more than a rumour, since it is reported in "RAF Little Rissington: The Central Flying School Years" (Bagshaw, 2006). A detail I'd missed, and it gives me another anecdote for when Cosford re-opens, and tours begin again.

I remember the CAACU Mosquitos at Exeter in 1959 when I was learning to fly a Tiger Moth. The sound of the Merlins was wonderful. Then, one day, one of them landed trailing the target towing wire which it had been unable to jettison. The wire pulled down some nearby electrical pylons plunging the surrounding towns into darkness. Here is a memoir of those days by one of the pilots.

Exeter Memories - Doug Johns CAACU