Another Kiwi Mosquito nearing completion

[ErrolC]

Engine runs at Warbirds On Parade on Sunday. it taxiied to the hardstand from the AvSpecs hangar a few hundred metres away, the tug was easier and more dramatic for the short move to the grass in front of the crowd line.

DH Mosquito T.43 NZ2308 Engine Run by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

[DH82EH]

Amazing!
Thanks for the picture.

Andy

[phil65]

Oshkosh..?

Phil

[JohnTerrell]

Great photo, Errol!

On social media, Lewis Air Legends has mentioned that they'd like to have it at Oshkosh this summer, but timing might be rather tight. It's scheduled to be at Warbirds Over Wanaka, just over two weeks from now, for which it will of course need to be flight tested between now and then. Following that, it will be flown back to Ardmore, disassembled, crated and shipped, reassembled in the US, and put on the US register and flight tested again.

With regard to the paint scheme, it is a mixture of its post-war RNZAF markings but with D-Day invasion stripes and fuselage codes painted red (the code letters themselves are accurate to the airframe's post-war service in the RNZAF, though they would have been black). There is some thought that this might be temporary, with this year of course marking 80 years since D-Day, but it certainly doesn't look temporary. I quite like the looks of it.

[Zac Yates]

The scheme has really grown on me too, John, but we are very much in the minority!

[ErrolC]

Yes, that combination of scheme elements makes sense if they aren't going to have time to apply the final scheme before it is at events where they want D-Day stripes on. The silver is there anyway, the RNZAF markings are fairly straightforward.

At least it isn't having to be shipped through any canals, although there is general disruption to shipping schedules worldwide.

Hopefully I can catch a test flight (they might pre-announce?) or departure to/arrival from Wanaka. Unfortunately work's year-end is March, so I can't sit on Ardmore's fence on Wed/Thur before Easter.

[JohnB]

At least it isn't having to be shipped through any canals, although there is general disruption to shipping schedules.

A friend was quoted $400,000 to ship a large SE warbird from the UK to the West Coast.

I can't imagine what the cost would be for having a Mosquito shipped across the Pacific.
But then again, if you can afford a new Mosquito....

[phil65]

Fly it over...

Phil

[dhfan]

The DH Museum had one of their aircraft X-rayed some years ago, I believe it was W4050 the prototype, to investigate integrity and voids.
Although there was never any intention of doing so, as I recall the conclusion was, surprisingly, that the airframe was structurally sound and could have been made airworthy.

I believe it was TA634 that was xrayed to see if they could restore it to airworthy.

That makes it sound like they were planning to restore it to airworthy. They weren't, it was to find out how the airframe had fared. Although it was hangared by then, it had spent many years outside previously, not least at the museum.

I found an ancient post (approaching 20 years ago) on the Flypast forum by Bruce, who was then a big cheese at the Mosquito Museum, regarding the inspection.
It was ultrasound, not X-ray, it was TA634 and they were planning to do the same to W4050 in due course. Whether that was ever done I don't know.

Quote:
"It is interesting to note that much of the 'delamination' found on TA634 was from original manufacture - i.e. voids where the glue had not stuck. There was a little found that was through age and neglect, but really comparatively little."

[ErrolC]

75 years ago, in November 1946, the RNZAF received the first three Mosquito aircraft as part of its post-War re-equipment programme.

Three ex-RAAF aircraft arrived on 8 November with a fourth arriving three days later, after it was delayed at Whenuapai. They were escorted by a Lincoln bomber from RAAF Amberley, via Norfolk Island and Whenuapai.

These were dual-control aircraft to enable RNZAF crews to train before a significant order of over 70 reconditioned ex-RAF Mosquitos were received from England. The No. 75 Squadron RNZAF Unit History noted on 19 November 1946, “Mosquito Conversion Flight commenced flying training programme – flying from 0600 hrs and continued to 1700 hrs.”

Seen here in this photo is the arrival of the first Mosquitos for No. 75 Squadron at RNZAF Station Ohakea. A52-1005 later became NZ2303. Image ref OhG433-46, RNZAF Official.

I made an earlier comment about different roundels.
Question, what mark Merlins does the second (these are all Australian-built) Mosquito have?

[dhfan]

All Australian-built Mosquitoes had Packard Merlin 31s or 33s, the equivalent of Rolls-Royce Merlin 21s and 23s.

The first one appears to have the siamesed rear exhaust manifold and the second one has a standard manifold.

[ErrolC]

First test flight of NZ2308 ZK-PWL at 3:24 NZDT.
Congrats to all.

[DH82EH]

Fantastic news!
Congratulations to all involved for another monumental milestone!

Andy

[ricusa]

Remember Kermit Weeks on his Mosquito in the EAA museum stateing the glue used in the construction breaks down over time and would have to be completely redone to make airworthy. Also wonderd why all the currant flying Mosquitos regardless of type all have the flat fighter windscreen?

[Archer]

Some photos and background here: https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbird ... flies.html