De Havilland Mosquito

[SlimRick]

williamp said:

...and so another thread with lots of potential to be interesting descends into bickering and pathetic-ness

OP, I hope you got the answer you were looking before.

Indeed - it's been a very interesting read, many thanks for everyone's efforts. The pilot's name is Bill Reid, and IIRC he's just coming up on his 90th birthday

[Hooli]

Simpo Two said:

Finally got to see it this May: www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk

Many interesting aircraft (that you can walk through) and other exhibits both indoors and out.

Looks interesting, might drag my dad there one day as it's nearer their place than mine.

[tight5]

Any Mosquitos still flying ?

[Eric Mc]

tight5 said:

Any Mosquitos still flying ?

Not since the crash of RR299 in 1996. Howevber, there are at least two projects to get a Mossie back in the air. One in New Zealand is almost there so it may be that we have a flying Mosquito again within 12 months.

[aeropilot]

tight5 said:

Any Mosquitos still flying ?

Nope.

Hopefully, sometime in the next few years, Jerry Yagen's FB.26, KA114, that is being reconstructed/rebuilt in New Zealand will take to the air again.

There is also a B.35 on long term restoration to fly in Canada, as well as another in New Zealand for Paul Allens FHC.

[Total loss]

aeropilot said:

Jerry Yagen's FB.26, KA114, that is being reconstructed/rebuilt in New Zealand will take to the air again.

Jerry's Mosquito was due to fly this year, I don't know why it isn't finished yet, expect it will be soon. Before taking it back to the USA Jerry was going let it spend a while flying in the UK, hopefully that will still happen.

[aeropilot]

Total loss said:

aeropilot said:

Jerry Yagen's FB.26, KA114, that is being reconstructed/rebuilt in New Zealand will take to the air again.

Jerry's Mosquito was due to fly this year, I don't know why it isn't finished yet, expect it will be soon.

Weight of the paperwork hasn't exceeded the weight of the aircraft yet, probably

Here's a vid taken 4 or 5 months back during hyraulics testing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rL5O-VF4-g

Unless they are a few critical parts short, I'd guess first flight could be within the next 6-12 months..........hopefully.
And, yes, it will be terrific if he does let her fly here for a few months before it goes stateside. Likely be the one and only chance of ever seeing a Mossie in UK skies again.

Edited by aeropilot on Saturday 10th December 16:40

[DrTre]

You can keep your Spitfires, I still think they're the most beautiful plane ever made and I will attend any show that's at in the UK if it happens.

[Total loss]

Here is KA114 needing a bit of work !


for a photo guide of the restoration see
http://www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz/current.html

[tight5]

DrTre said:

I will attend any show that's at in the UK if it happens.

Same here !

Right , just need a tempest 5 flying now !

[ForzaWhitesGen2]

Eric Mc said:

Not since the crash of RR299 in 1996. Howevber, there are at least two projects to get a Mossie back in the air. One in New Zealand is almost there so it may be that we have a flying Mosquito again within 12 months.

I thought Kermit Weeks has got one airworthy in/around his (Florida) museum??

[Eric Mc]

ForzaWhitesGen2 said:

Eric Mc said:

Not since the crash of RR299 in 1996. Howevber, there are at least two projects to get a Mossie back in the air. One in New Zealand is almost there so it may be that we have a flying Mosquito again within 12 months.

I thought Kermit Weeks has got one airworthy in/around his (Florida) museum??

Let's say it was airworthy when he acquired it.

[Fat Albert]

As People have said. the de Havilland museum at London Colney is an excellent collection and they have a few Mossies in various states of repair including the prototype. You can get hands on with the exhibits, my kid's favourite is the Comet Cockpit procedure trainer

http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/

Just looked at my pics and we haven't been for 5 years, so overdue a visit in spring!

Edited by Fat Albert on Tuesday 13th December 16:33

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

ForzaWhitesGen2 said:

Eric Mc said:

Not since the crash of RR299 in 1996. Howevber, there are at least two projects to get a Mossie back in the air. One in New Zealand is almost there so it may be that we have a flying Mosquito again within 12 months.

I thought Kermit Weeks has got one airworthy in/around his (Florida) museum??

Let's say it was airworthy when he acquired it.

And it continued to be flown for another 5 or so years afterwards as well, to be fair. I think it's last flight was in 1991-ish.

[Eric Mc]

But like so many of Weeks' aircraft, they end up languishing in one of his hangars.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

But like so many of Weeks' aircraft, they end up languishing in one of his hangars.

The Mossie didn't even get to do that, as it had to be found a home away from Florida's heat and humidity.

Kermit's problem, is his toy box is just too big, and he simply won't be around long enough to see all his projects finished.
Lovely chap though, he was actually manning the till in the gift shop of his museum when I visited there back in 1989, so ended up having a longish chat with him about the Mossie infact.

[Eric Mc]

aeropilot said:

Eric Mc said:

But like so many of Weeks' aircraft, they end up languishing in one of his hangars.

The Mossie didn't even get to do that, as it had to be found a home away from Florida's heat and humidity.

Kermit's problem, is his toy box is just too big, and he simply won't be around long enough to see all his projects finished.
Lovely chap though, he was actually manning the till in the gift shop of his museum when I visited there back in 1989, so ended up having a longish chat with him about the Mossie infact.

Sounds like my loft of unbuilt plastic kits - only bigger.

[ForzaWhitesGen2]

Eric Mc said:

But like so many of Weeks' aircraft, they end up languishing in one of his hangars.

..bit harsh that? Cannot be too many people in the world with the Type Ratings that Kermit has on his licence...... Finding a competent and exprienced pilot for some of Weeks' toys isn't that easy.... not to mention the insurance element.....

He's put vast amounts of his own money in keeping many historic aircraft airworthy.... from a ford trimotor to his lovely Sunderland.....

am betting some of the insurance premiums are extremely hour limiting on what are in some cases almost the only airworthy example on the planet!

[Simpo Two]

Now if he started his own insurance company...

[Eric Mc]

ForzaWhitesGen2 said:

..bit harsh that? Cannot be too many people in the world with the Type Ratings that Kermit has on his licence...... Finding a competent and exprienced pilot for some of Weeks' toys isn't that easy.... not to mention the insurance element.....

He's put vast amounts of his own money in keeping many historic aircraft airworthy.... from a ford trimotor to his lovely Sunderland.....

am betting some of the insurance premiums are extremely hour limiting on what are in some cases almost the only airworthy example on the planet!

I think he's a bit of a "collector" so he has acquired more aircraft than he can realistically keep airworthy. The sad thing is that the aircraft were often airworthy when they were acquired by him but became non-airworthy under his ownership. I am just hoping that these now non-flying aircarft in his possession will one day return to the air - either under his ownership or someone else's.