Wooden Wonder Question?

[Jerry O'Neill]

I've never read about it (I've read only a little about the "Mossie") but seeing some posted pics of a Mossie in the tropics got me thinking: did temp and humidity play any roll in the flying characteristics of the Mosquito?

It would seem to me that as a "breathing" material, the wood in the Wooden Wonder might absorb water in a humid climate and therefore have a negative effect on load, airspeed etc.

Can anybody with authority answer the question?
Just wondering about the Wooden Wonder!
Blue skies,
Jerry

[warbird1]

I'm not an expert or even close to an authority figure on Mossie's, but I do know that the British had a very tough time with them over in Burma and S.E. Asis for that very reason. Apparently, the wood tends to delaminate easier in hot tropic areas. Supposedly, it is for this same reason, that Kermit Weeks has his Mossie up at the EAA headquarters at Oshkosh, where it is cold and dry. He didn't want to have to contend with those issues if he kept it in Florida.

[Warbird Kid]

Now we know! Cause knowledge is power!

[Second Air Force]

The same problems with heat and humidity doomed a large number of Hornets as well. That is a machine I would love to see replicated--there are some bits of Hornet in Great Britain just waiting to be adopted.

Scott

[warbird1]

Here is an interesting link about the Mossie's service in the Far East and some of the problems they had with the tropical conditions:

http://users.cyberone.com.au/clardo/de_ ... quito.html

Also from Wikipedia at the following link it says:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito

"The glue used was initially casein-based. It was changed to a formaldehyde-based preparation when the Mosquito was introduced to fighting in semi-tropical and tropical climates, after some unexplained crashes led to the suspicion that the glue was unable to withstand the climate. De Havilland also developed a technique to accelerate the glue drying by heating it using microwaves."

[Jollygreenslugg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito

"...De Havilland also developed a technique to accelerate the glue drying by heating it using microwaves."

Gee. it'd be hard to fit a Mossie in the microwave!

(I'll get me coat)

Cheers,
Matt

[Mgawa]

I have extract from manual and I note holes in internal construction which prevent moisture or water to concentrate inside corners and construction.

[warbird1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito

"...De Havilland also developed a technique to accelerate the glue drying by heating it using microwaves."

Gee. it'd be hard to fit a Mossie in the microwave!

(I'll get me coat)

Cheers,
Matt

I hear the Mossie tastes better with a bit of cheese on top.

[Mark V]

The same problems with heat and humidity doomed a large number of Hornets as well.

The Hornet fared even worse in hot climates due to its innovative wood to metal bonding system

That is a machine I would love to see replicated--there are some bits of Hornet in Great Britain just waiting to be adopted.Scott

There is a very active project being undertaken here in the UK to re-create a Hornet. The cockpit is already complete and many other original components collected.

[Rossco]

Which is...........here...... http://www.dhhornet50.net/

[Oscar Duck]

certainly the heat and humidity played a big part as the fell apart in the tropics after a short time...