Warbird Information Exchange

New Pictures of FHC's Mossie outside can be found here-
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2016/ ... -12_6.html

First time it has been on its own wheels since probably the 60's(?), following its transfer to/display at the IWM. Even by the time it was used in the film 633 Squadron, it was no longer considered airworthy.

Here is a nice comparison photo of the aircraft taken while stationed at RAF Exeter around 1959: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697406 ... otostream/

You've missed one out.

Mirisch Films had access to 11 x Mossie's for 633 Squadron, 5 x flyers, 4 x taxi/ground runners, plus 2 x 'studio' aircraft.

The 5 x flyers were the 4 x B.35 (RS709, RS712, TA639, TA719) and a single T.3 TW117. (TA639 & TW117 were loaded by the RAF for the filming, and only flown by service pilots) the other 3 x B.35's were owned by and resigtered to Mirisch Films Ltd.

You've missed one out.

Mirisch Films had access to 11 x Mossie's for 633 Squadron, 5 x flyers, 4 x taxi/ground runners, plus 2 x 'studio' aircraft.

The 5 x flyers were the 4 x B.35 (RS709, RS712, TA639, TA719) and a single T.3 TW117. (TA639 & TW117 were loaded by the RAF for the filming, and only flown by service pilots) the other 3 x B.35's were owned by and resigtered to Mirisch Films Ltd.

I'd be very interested to hear the details about TV959's restoration. How did it compare to the previous examples? It seems to have gone together quicker, I assume because they started with a more or less intact airframe?

How did they handle the sawed off wing? Was any of the rest of the airframe rebuilt, or was the glue and plywood laminating still good?

I checked Avspec's FB page but only update photos. If any one has any info or links please share!

The remains of KA114 arrived at Avspecs in 2004 and the aircraft was finished in 2012 (though some sources give the restoration as having taken 7 years), where as the build/restoration of TV959 began with the arrival of the aircraft to Avpsecs in 2011 and it is being finished now in 2016, so Avspecs were able to shave 2-3 years off the length of rebuild it would seem. With KA114, Avspecs was of course faced with having to find or manufacture so many difficult parts, and time really gets absorbed that way. I'm sure they would have made small production batches of certain (near to or unobtainable) parts to be used in the next projects. The original interior of TV959 seemed very complete and in generally good condition, given its age (though it still required a new fuselage and wing) - I suspect that if it hadn't been so complete the project could have taken longer, especially as, unlike KA114, TV959 has the dual control setup, so they're not that identical internally - though, at least with TV959, I'm sure there were quite a bit less items to worry about manufacturing/installing up-front, without having any armament fitted. Other than the cockpit details/fit-out and pilot control related items, however, they seem to be essentially identical airframes externally, from what I've seen (including the same engines, cowls, intakes, exhaust stubs, etc.).

For the next one, PZ474, the remains arrived at Avspecs in 2014, and the new build fuselage and wing are now already well completed. Avpsecs have it slated to fly as early as around Easter 2018 (which would seem to imply possibly having it flying in-time for Warbirds Over Wanaka(?)). This may seem a bit impossible a goal to reach, but it would appear that PZ474 is farther along than TV959 was at the start of 2015.

All really good info John. Much appreciated as well.

Avspecs will be getting really good at Mosquitoes by now.
The experience gained with KA114 would be a huge asset towards speeding up the process.
I fully agree that KA114 would have been a bigger job regardless. Starting with a complete aircraft makes a huge difference.
Things like special tools and jigs for building components will now be readily at hand, instead of having to be invented.
The biggest difference though, will be the knowledge. Things are so much easier and quicker, when you already know how to do it!

TV959 has a new fuselage and wing, so the sawed off wing becomes a non issue. The original fuselage, minus everything, including data plate, was offered for sale.

Great thread. I love all these mossies returning to life!

Andy

John and DH82E, Thank you.

"TV959 has a new fuselage and wing, so the sawed off wing becomes a non issue. The original fuselage, minus everything, including data plate, was offered for sale."

This answered my question. So essentially all these Mossies are new build as far as the wood and fabric goes. This being considered I wonder if it would even be cost effective for Kermit to even consider having his own team tear into RS712 when the time comes like he mentioned in the YT walk around video.

On their Facebook page yesterday AvSpecs shared a video of the starboard prop being spun, I'm guessing by the starter motor. Their caption was simply "The Pressures Building!": https://www.facebook.com/Avspecs/videos ... 938792836/

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

The starboard engine run on TV959 was conducted a few minutes ago: https://www.facebook.com/Avspecs/videos ... 568561573/

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

The NZ Civil Aircraft spotter blog has some great, atmospheric photos of the engine run and afterward. Great stuff!

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

Like!



Andy

The AvSpecs team has also uploaded a clip of Wednesday's testing to YouTube, for any non-Facebookers: https://youtu.be/ZiSce-L-uog

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

More starboard engine runs yesterday, unfortunately for me it was facing NE for the benefit of Gavin Conroy in the late afternoon sunlight (and possibly it was just as convenient for the team measuring performance ).

But I managed to apply four senses to TV959, and I don't plan to lick it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmRINWaOszA

More photos and video at WONZ.

Murky Mossie magic on Facebook - a brief run of the port engine late yesterday: https://www.facebook.com/Avspecs/videos ... 900740273/

And some photos taken around the same time: http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/ ... -8-16.html

EDIT: Turns out they ran both engines not long before I posted! http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/ ... -time.html

EDIT EDIT: Two hours later, the first taxi: http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/ ... -8-16.html

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22