Mosquito KA114 Roll Out today

[Dave Homewood]

I was at the right place, right time today when I visited Avspecs, as they decided to roll out the Spitfire and the Mosquito so the two could swap positions in the workshop. What a fantastic sight, the first time I have seen the Mossie out in the sunshine and without all the clutter. Thanks for a great day Warren and all the guys!

[Dan K]

Very nice. Thanks for posting, Dave.

Still on target for a September first flight?

[Dave Homewood]

It certainly is.

[K5DH]

Wow, Dave, you sure were in the right place at the right time, and with good lighting, too! The Mossie is looking great! Thanks for sharing your pics.

That's Jerry Yagen's airplane, right?

[Dave Homewood]

Yes it's Mr Yagen's aircraft.

[C VEICH]

Simply awesome. I can't think of any other word for it.

[gary1954]

Wow, Dave, you sure were in the right place at the right time, and with good lighting, too! The Mossie is looking great! Thanks for sharing your pics.

That's Jerry Yagen's airplane, right?

Awesome! but....this may lead people to believe that Dave paid someone to drag these airframes from the hangar, and made another deal with the Lord for the great lighting for these great photos.

The question that I have in my mind now is; who in the world or how many multi-engine type rated aviators are there that are type rated to fly the Mossie?

Further, in the big scheme of those that tax us literally to death on the federal level (meaning FAA or the equiv in Aussie land) who pray-tell is qualified to act as the type rating authority in the name of those that tax us literally to death, or is a multi engine type rating sufficient to just hop in and fly her? I'm just asking

[bombadier29]

The question that I have in my mind now is; who in the world or how many multi-engine type rated aviators are there that are type rated to fly the Mossie?

I would be asking Kermit Weeks to come fly it for me. I assume he is the last person left in the US that has flown one in recent times.

Of course this isn't my airplane. I did look at buying into the one that Ed Jurist had down in Harlingen, many decades ago. But it was a lot easier to get rated in warbirds back then!

[ErrolC]

There is a dicussion about (planning for) test pilot selection (no details!) for The People's Mosquito in this podcast;

http://aviation-xtended.co.uk/ep-03-the ... n-air-day/

Of course, that discussion is in the context of UK CAA requirements, not FAA or NZ CAA.

[ErrolC]

Awesome! but....this may lead people to believe that Dave paid someone to drag these airframes from the hangar, and made another deal with the Lord for the great lighting for these great photos.

Ha! Weell, Dave is probably discrete and friendly, not to mention having a supportive website - all of which pays in spades down the line...

And has a proven history of complying with owners' requests when special access/info is provided on projects (e.g. the Avenger returning to NZ). Dave is also organising the veterans side of the Ardmore show and dinner.

The question that I have in my mind now is; who in the world or how many multi-engine type rated aviators are there that are type rated to fly the Mossie?

Recent pilot type rating? The simple answer I would guess is none. Theres a small bit of scuttlebutt online (The Aviation Forum? - CRS) that the pilot(s) has/have been tapped, but no names mentioned.

High-grade scuttlebutt at aforementioned supportive website
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?ac ... e=4#159431

Last edited by ErrolC on Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[daveymac82c]

I remember climbing around that airframe when I was a little boy, when it was still at Crescent Beach, BC.

It's nice to see how far it's come and I can wait to be able to her airborne once again.

Peace,

David

[daveymac82c]

Like the P-40, I wonder if it could be arranged to have this beauty firing all its guns in flight for a display. Hmm.... That would be sweet!

Peace,

David

[ErrolC]

Like the P-40, I wonder if it could be arranged to have this beauty firing all its guns in flight for a display. Hmm.... That would be sweet!

Peace,

David

All its guns?
Issues I can think of:
Good luck importing any new operating automatic weapons to NZ.
It's possible that there are 4 appropriate MGs already in NZ, but I doubt it (the P-40 has .50's, I assume).
4x 20mm cannon?!?! Sweet Lord no! Well if you stole them from the RNZAF/Safe Air A-4K's you could get 20mm cannon, but they are the wrong sort!
Is any other country crazy enough to let warbirds fire blanks?

[Dave Homewood]

I know that the radiators have been manufactured, but can I ask you if AvSpecs is close to installing these? For experienced eyes, the remaining work may seem apparent, but for the rest of us the list of "to-dos" at this point is a mystery. Have you learned what remains to be done to KA114 before engine runs?

All I can tell you is that a lot that looks like it is yet to be done on the aircraft has probably already been done and it is temporarily removed at the momnt so items can be in the paint shop. It is a lot more advanced than it currently looks. Engine runs are scheduled for early Septemebr and it seems to be on track.

[Dave Homewood]

Awesome! but....this may lead people to believe that Dave paid someone to drag these airframes from the hangar, and made another deal with the Lord for the great lighting for these great photos.

It all came together perfectly. It was a very foggy morning and was still foggy when the Spitfire went outdoors, but the blue skies broke through just before the Mossie stepped out the door.

The question that I have in my mind now is; who in the world or how many multi-engine type rated aviators are there that are type rated to fly the Mossie?

The test pilots who I know have been chosen are New Zealanders, both hugely experienced warbird and multi-engine pilots. Both of them are experienced test pilots, and neither have any Mosquito experience. I have every confience in both men. When their names are released publicly you will relise there was never anything to fear. There is a third pilot in the mix who's name has not been mentioned to me, but I suspect he may be another well known NZ warbird test pilot.