Saville wrote:
What is the service life of the fuselage and wings? Probably better glues, but how long can one rely on the structure
of a wooden airplane these days?
Are they built the same was as the originals? Or are there substantial modifications to the build technique that
give a longer service life to the structure?
No idea, but I imagine the climate, hangars and not flying in moisture will help a lot for the recent restorations, vice the in service variants that had an especially rough time in hot and humid climates. Found this interesting quote on line:
Jeff Jefford had an article on 'The Mosquito and its Structural Problems in the Far East' in the recent 'RAF Historical Society Journal' No. 74. The conclusion states the following:
"... , while stories of the glue 'breaking down' circulated widely both during the war and after, and there was some factual basis for these, this was not the root cause of the Mosquito's problem. It is true that there were some early manufacturing deficiencies and joints did tend to come apart, but the real problem lay in the swelling and/or shrinkage of the wooden structure, rather than simply inadequate adhesion - although the end result was the same. Despite the remedial action that was implemented, silver-painted, late series Mosquitos, complete with Mod 638, were still grounded for 'defective glued joints' in Singapore as late as 1954, eg VT628 of No 45 Sqn. But was it really defective glue, or a defective joint, or a well-glued well-made joint which had pulled apart through wood shrinkage? It seems self evident that, regardless of the type of glue employed, the colour of the paintwork and the incorporation of Mod 638, the Mosquito was simply unable to stand up to prolonged exposure to the high ambient temperature and humidity of the tropics."
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