Mosquito first air show today

[pjpahs]

I believe Kermit's Mossie is at Oshkosh in a EAA hanger,not flying but brought out to see the sun on special events. Be great if he would ship it to Avspecs and have them do their magic to get it airborne. It's all there just needs a new body. I love to find ways for others to spend money. And if he is already doing this I applaude him. To have another in the air would be outstanding.

[JDK]

Thanks for the correction, Dave.

Lucky too that 487's code was EG, not GE, or there may've been some discord Chez Yagen!

More seriously, as Dave's also got correct, and I didn't, 487 was strictly speaking an RAF unit with NZ members and a NZ suffix, so correctly "487 (NZ) Squadron, RAF". It has to do with administration, operational command and pay.

(Also for those wondering, according to Ken Delve's excellent Source Book of the RAF, other Mosquito unit codes include: over 110+ other options from AE to ZK, though many of those are special flights and non-combat squadron units.)

As to other Mosquitos, pjpahs, there are three other rebuilds currently underway; FHC's ex-IWM & TFC one (suffering from TLAs), Glyn Powell's own T43 trainer version (dual control) and the example with Bob Jens in Canada. How much work Kermit's Mozzie would need is a good question - there's little reliable data, and lots of opinion out there on it. However if a new fuselage and flying surfaces are needed, certainly Glyn and Avspecs have the moulds, jigs and equipment. One just needs to bring one's cash and a project.

Regards,

[k5083]

I can't disagree with all this "more more more" sentiment, but my priority is to enjoy this first one for a while. Here's hoping it has a long, active and safe flying career.

August

[JDK]

Indeed! However I've been lucky enough to 'pat' all the above mentioned examples on my travels, and look forward to their (and other) returns to the sky.

[pjpahs]

Thanks JDK, as I looked up the DH Hornet, wow, what an aircraft !! Found that the Merlins cranks turned the same way but the starboard Merlin 131 had an additional idler gear in the reduction to have the prop turn opposite of the port Merlin 130. Now this is taken from Wikipedia, let us know if it is the real story. Looked up the Lockheed P-38 and it had the Allisons cranks going in opposite rotations. Seems to me that the Merlin way of building the engines the same but changing the reduction is simpler. And how the English way of describing rotation - clockwise or anticlockwise, gotta love it.

[JDK]

That's correct, indeed. I'm not enough of an engineer to comment on the advantages of either system, so I won't. However the P-38 needed the props to rotate in opposite directions, and as they were set; any other option (as seen in the prototype and British-sales emasculated version also sans blowers) was Not A Good Thing.

As a result of the extra gearing the (stbd?) Hornet engine cowl and nacelle was very slightly longer than the other.

On RR engines, the plate reads 'Right Hand Tractor' or Left Hand Tractor' for Griffons or Merlins (and presumably 'Right Hand / Left Hand Pusher' for any aft facing engines...)

Like the rule of the road, there are choices, not 'the right' and 'the wrong' way of doing things.

[Dave Homewood]

Huh, I never knew that Americans don't use the terms 'clockwise' and 'anti-clockwise'. They are standard everyday terms here and around the world. How did the Americans miss out on such a simple concept I wonder?

I think Packard made Merlins that turned the opposite way, didn't they? As the twin Mustangs used them I think, not sure though.

Anyway, on a different note, on Sunday 30th of September 2012 - the day after the big airshow - the Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum had a forum meet at Don Subritzky's place. Among the guest speakers were John Beeching, a WWII Mosquito pilot, and a special guest, Jerry Yagen himself. Not to forget our own JDK too. I have just placed recordings of the speeches on the Wings Over New Zealand Show site and you can listen or download as a podcast here:
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html#Ep27

Jerry was really interesting and it was a great pleasure to have him at the event, and to hear him talk about the Mosquito.

[JDK]

Huh, I never knew that Americans don't use the terms 'clockwise' and 'anti-clockwise'. They are standard everyday terms here and around the world. How did the Americans miss out on such a simple concept I wonder?

Now Dave, don't start winding the nice Americans up...

Same reason people do things the way they do things because that's how we do things here.... (For everwhere that's got a 'here'.)

Jerry was really interesting and it was a great pleasure to have him at the event, and to hear him talk about the Mosquito.

Absolutely. I'd certainly recommend that bit of the podcast, very illuminating and answers some questions raised earlier here.

Most of the other speakers are worth a listen too.

Regards,

[Dave Homewood]

Seriously, I wasn't trying to wind up anyone. I'm genuinely surprised as I always assumed that was a worldwide term, and discovering it is not used in the USA is a surprise, that's all.

[shrike]

American parlance is 'clockwise' and 'counter-clockwise'
I won't go near widdershins.

[Rick65]

I have loved seeing the photos and videos of the Mosquito in the air.
The closest I have been to one is at the Australian War Museum and they look and sound even better where they are designed to be.
Now we need a flying Beaufighter as well, a different, more pugnacious and less elegant appeal, but wouldn't it be great.

[JDK]

Now we need a flying Beaufighter as well, a different, more pugnacious and less elegant appeal, but wouldn't it be great.

At least one of the Mosquito veterans at Ardmore had Beaufighter (and Beaufort) time, and clearly rated both Beau and Mozzie highly, although for different reasons. Said the (Perseus-engine) Beaufort was a dog though.

That was John Beeching, and available to hear in Dave's WoNZ show podcast.

Regards,

[maxum96]

Once again not my video, but a neat pilot POV video of a ground taxi test on the Mosquito. The cockpit on that thing is beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgxTD1DULKU&feature=related

[maxum96]

And another great low pass video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAB1VQY7WQE&feature=relmfu

[maxum96]

How about some low pass with the Mossie, a P51, a Spitfire and a P40 all in formation? Absolute airplane porrnn! LOL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_804090&feature=iv&src_vid=YEyDlgJYIF8&v=kUU7hBGy0lk