Iconic Aircraft Aviation Forum

Thought you all would like to follow this idea/project.

A band of aviation enthusiasts have got together to return a Mossie back to flight and donate it to the BBMF when airworthy, sounds like a massive challenge to me,as yet they dont have a Mossie to restore or if there are any available in a fit state to return to flight, I dont know where they intend to restore her, cost or time scales planned.

you can follow the project. Here

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/181903705240642/

or

http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk/

I wish them well

Me too!

So do I but I'm not convinced they fully understand the long hard road ahead of them yet, I don't know their background or qualifications but wish them well tho' not sure where they'll get an airframe from.

Mayfly wrote:So do I but I'm not convinced they fully understand the long hard road ahead of them yet, I don't know their background or qualifications but wish them well tho' not sure where they'll get an airframe from.

Not to mention engines!

If they get the money, though, then
anything is possible!!!!!!!!!!

NZ has the forms for the fuselage, right?

Danf.

Mayfly wrote:So do I but I'm not convinced they fully understand the long hard road ahead of them yet, I don't know their background or qualifications but wish them well tho' not sure where they'll get an airframe from.

EBAY?

So they don't have an airframe or any engines, and we don't know if they have a workshop or any money to build it?

Good luck to them, sounds like they need some...

......a long way to go yet before some picks up a spanner or a saw!!

Tom Panton has posted his support........

Is he one of The Pantons?

I thought it was just Fred and Harrold!

Not forgetting their brother Christopher who died in the Halifax.

Mayfly wrote:So do I but I'm not convinced they fully understand the long hard road ahead of them yet, I don't know their background or qualifications but wish them well tho' not sure where they'll get an airframe from.

What about building a new one Pam!

O.K folk might think me potty, but its not as daft as it might sound. Unlike metal aircraft with labour intensive and high skill metal forming techniques making new build generally impractical cost wise, the parts of the Mossie could be built by relatively low labour cost and turned out quickly by furniture makers and carpenters work shops or even school woodwork classes, all over the place and then assembled centrally. I venture to say if suitable plans exist and enough such craft workshops could be persuaded to sponsor the project by building some of the airframe parts for free, an airframe could soon become a reality at very little cost. Finding the skills to assemble it should also prove feasible, its wood and such skills exist a plenty in the both the aviation restoration and boat worlds.

Just a thought, I'll sharpen me fret saw.

An interesting concept, I wonder if there are any well known furniture firms run by aviation enthusiasts?

I believe the plans would be available from the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre.

Xplumberlives wrote:An interesting concept, I wonder if there are any well known furniture firms run by aviation enthusiasts?

I believe the plans would be available from the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre.

Thats it then, now wheres me old Dads cabinet makers tool kit.

Oh it's not beyond the possibility DB. But when we spoke to Glyn Powell in NZ it took him 5 years to build the fuselage mould, would he be willing to sell it or loan it? and the ply he used [as everything he has done is to the original spec [barring the glue]] was especially made. Now they may well be able to cut down on the time frame as Glyn has been building his for over 20 years, but either way it will still be a long road ahead of them.

Your solution is in New Zealand.........

They have the forms and the expertise and
the knowledge.........

Assuming there is enough MONEY available,
I don't see why a Mosquito could not be made
with just a little cooperation!

Build 'er in NZ and bring 'er HOME!

It's all down to MOOLAH!

Danf.

Mayfly wrote:Oh it's not beyond the possibility DB. But when we spoke to Glyn Powell in NZ it took him 5 years to build the fuselage mould, would he be willing to sell it or loan it? and the ply he used [as everything he has done is to the original spec [barring the glue]] was especially made. Now they may well be able to cut down on the time frame as Glyn has been building his for over 20 years, but either way it will still be a long road ahead of them.

Couldn't agree more Pam. But they are Kiwis who waste a lot of time jumping off bridges with rubber bands round their feet, then play with their odd shaped balls after doing a strange dance involving shouting a lot and sticking your tonge out at anyone not from NZ. We on the other hand are British and if it can be done we can do it!!

Seriously, your right its a long job either way and will depend on getting the cost down by the "many hands make light work= low cost" principle, but arguably one well worth the doing and actually achieveable too. I would love to be around if it happens and here that fabulous growl of twin Merlins again.
Good luck to them.

p.s.All the best for 2012 to you and DT.

D4thNow then Yank, we'll have none of that build it there and bring her home, thats treason that is! Build her here, where she started out, and make her of proper British wood.

Hello??????????

D.

I wonder if they have approached the CAA for their 'in principle' comments?

Are any Mossies sat in museums (like Cosford) that could be used as the basis for a full 'restoration to flight' project?

I would imagine that sourcing suitable engines could also be a problem.

But good luck anyway.

ibw

there is one at Elvington that is still being worked on, maybe that one could be brought back to life............

This one

The problem with wooden aircraft is that unless
they are actively and carefully preserved, both
the wood and the glue will dry out......

Building a NEW one is far more practical than
restoring an OLD one.........

Just saying...........

Danf.

As much as I would love to see a "BRITISH" Mosquito built and flying, I would be more than happy to see the
other one(S) flying as they are so much further along the rocky road to flight status!

Why a Mosquito? Okay, it's got more profile than many other aircraft, but other Mosquito projects around the world are more advanced and seemingly better placed to succeed. Maybe they've been watching the endless repeats of 633 Sqn over Christmas...

Anyway, my suggestion would be to go for a new-build Hornet instead!

Gully

Gully wrote:Why a Mosquito? Okay, it's got more profile than many other aircraft, but other Mosquito projects around the world are more advanced and seemingly better placed to succeed. Maybe they've been watching the endless repeats of 633 Sqn over Christmas...

Anyway, my suggestion would be to go for a new-build Hornet instead!

Gully

Good luck to the other projects, but they won't be flying over here with the BBMF and making our kids go "OOH AAHH!

Why a Mossie:

1. Because the Mosquito is an ICONIC aircraft and probably the ultimate multi-role combat aircraft ever built.
2. We don't have one that could/would/or is likely to be allowed to fly at present.
3. Its British.
4. Its a stunning looker in any role.
5. Because some morons made a film and burned the stars!!
6. Because some folk would say "It can't be done"
7. Because we are British and can do impossible tasks, like restoring Vulcan to flight.
8. Because the Germans built replica FW 190s and ME 262s and we can't have that there here, now can we?
9. Did I mention we are British??
10 Etc, etc,etc.

Hornet would be nice too, obviously you don't mean that noisey jet thingey from the US, so it must be the lovely DH 103, child of Mosquito. Not in service till 1946, so not as historically relevant lovely looker all the same??

You make a very strong case D.B.