Ozzy Heaven!!!

[HawkerTempest5]

Ah the Wooden Wonder, something so backwardly radical that it worked wonders, and the Air Ministry didn't believe them, just proves you can never trust pencil necks!
A bomber that became a fighter! And a damn fine one at that! Now that is radical. Ah the purr of those twin Merlins. Sweet music too my ears.
Is it true that someone over on the other side of the Pond has nearly finished restoring one to flying condition?

Ozzy

A guy in Canada has a Mosquito in rebuild but it's a project without a time limit. Funds are limited and parts are rare, but it is comming along.
Kermit Weeks brought an airworthy Mossie from the UK but it suffered from delamination problems and is now grounded. Don't know about it being restored but I'm sure if MR. Weeks thinks it can be done he will do it.
The Fighter Collection has a Mosquito that is a possible airworthy project and it has now been shipped out for restoration.
The 262 replica had an undercarrige faliure shortly after landing and is now in rebuild. There will be two more 262's another two seater and a lone single seater. Don't think they plan to build any more unless they get more orders.
There are a number of FW 190 replicas also being built. One of my favorite WW2 Warbirds, I'd love to see the real thing, but it would be nice to see one of these new builds at next years Flying Legends.

[ATI_7500]

Remind me to address your uncle as SIR!
I don't know of any purpose built 109 models for 2k2, I know of some 190s however. And they would give my beloved MkV a whipping, so I'd better go polish my IX

Mark

PS. Respect is what you'll be giving me lots of after your flying lesson my dear boy

a) even your IX would never have a chance against the furious 190 (strong weapons,but flys a bit too nervously). *evil grin*
b) respect? i only respect the men who survived your marmalade attacks.

c)(thinks: i'll make him drunk with some german beer...har,har,har.)

d)thanks for the link,hagar! this guy has even modeled my beloved Bf 109F (poor weapons,but looks just great)! or shall i d/l that 109E-4 i can't decide! arrrrgh!  :P

[Crumbso]

GERMAN BEER!!!!!!

bah Get thy some good ol' english bitter doon tha' neck lad

[ozzy72]

Have a look at this site, gentlemen. You will see a Mozzie in the process of being restored in Australia (Don't worry, we'll look after the important things..........) !.

Only had a quick look, so I don't know where their up to. It's an ex WWII service bird, delivered in 1943.

http://www.home.gil.com.au/~bfillery/mossie11.htm

Here's a rather funny excerpt from the aircraft's history!

In November 1954 it was listed for disposal and bought by a Mildura orchardist who cut off the wings flush with the fuselage and removed the tail section. He intended to mount the dismembered aircraft on a turntable and run the engines at slow speed to help dispel frost from his orchard. These plans were not carried through. For ten years A52-600 stood in the open and did duty as a children's playhouse. Due to the mild, dry climate of Mildura this treatment did little damage to the airframe.

[ozzy72]

That is way beyond Wendy House in the cool stakes. What a terrible waste, she looks awful the poor thing.
Let us hope she returns to the skys soon.

Ozzy

[HawkerTempest5]

Brensec pal, I thought the Aussie Mosquito was for static disply, not to airworthy condition. Still, nice to see another "Woodern Wounder" being lovingly restored.

[ozzy72]

That is way beyond Wendy House in the cool stakes. What a terrible waste, she looks awful the poor thing.
Let us hope she returns to the skys soon.

Ozzy

I think the photos that are on the page that my link goes directly to, were taken some time ago (1991). I'm sure things are much further advanced now.

I'm going to have a bit of a look throught the site shortly, and I 'll see if I can find out exactly where they are up to.

Although, the fact that they are asking for donations does dot auger well.

Seeing as many of us are WWII warbird buffs, and the Mozzie seems to be a dying, if not dead, plane in terms of airworthy examples, would it be untoward for me to suggest that we (ie SimV community) explore the possibility of making a donation to this organisation. Maybe a collection from those who would like to chuck in a dollar (or two). Who knows, we may even get a "SimV" decal on the plane...........lol.
(Don't know how Pete would feel about such a venture. He, of course would have to have no problem with it and it would have to be done "properly").

Any ideas..................................Pete?  ;D

[ozzy72]

This is the state of affairs with the Mozzie, as far as i can see with a quick read. It's all pretty old stuff, but when restoring these types of planes, things are measured in years and sometimes decades.

On the 21st July 1992 Allan Davies initiated the foundation of the Mosquito Association of Australia (MAAA) as a support group to the RAAF and Volunteer Restoration Team of servicemen and civilians. By November 1997 the Association had already raised over $25,000 to assist in the cost of restoration.

Restoration to flying condition was confidently expected to be completed by the year 2000 when A52-600, the only PR Mk XVI left in the world, would have been 56 years old. Due to factors beyond the control of the MAAA this has had to be revised.

I'm interested enough to send a email to find out (for my own info) where things are up to and when(if at all) the project is expected to be completed.  ;D

I'll keep you posted.

[Hagar]

Hi Brensec. I think you have to be realistic. I'm sure we all have different ideas on which specific type would be worthy of our support. I would dearly love to see the Vulcan fly again but doubt this will ever happen. The funds set up to support these projects all too often run into financial difficulties. Sometimes, through no fault of the organisers, the contributions so willingly given for restoration can end up being used for other purposes.

The Mosquito suffers from the same problems as all vintage wooden aircraft. Due to the glues & techniques used in their construction the structure delaminates, even in the best storage conditions. (Wooden airframes were never ideal & don't last long in humid climates.) This means stripping the whole airframe down for close inspection & restoration using new glues & adhesives & new wood where applicable. It would often be quicker (& less expensive) to remanufacture the whole thing from scratch. The Aussie project is very creditable but I'm not sure it will ever fly. Finding one in good enough condition to restore to flying condition would be extremely difficult. The last airworthy example in Europe, funded & operated by BAe, sadly crashed at Barton Aerodrome in 1996.

I'm not sure how current this info is. Posted on the RAF website. http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/mosquito4.html

Very few of this graceful aircraft entered preservation. One flying example, owned by British Aerospace, was a very popular item on air display programmes for many years. The Aircraft was a Mosquito T Mk 3 G-ASKH/RR299 and was operated by them at Hawarden near Chester. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed on the 21st July 1996 during a display Barton Aerodrome in with the loss of both crewmen. Currently there are thirty three Mosquito airframes in Museums in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Norway and South Africa. These, remarkably, include W 5040, the prototype, which is located at the De Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall, London Colney near St Albans, where the Mosquito prototype was originally designed. There are currently two Mosquitoes with the potential to fly again. One in Canada, where Bob Gens from British Columbia has acquired Mosquito B.35 VR796/C-HMC and one in the USA, a Mosquito B.Mk.35, RS712, owned by Kermit Weeks in Florida. RS 712 was flown to North America in 1988 from Britain, where it appeared on the air show circuit for a few seasons before being put on display in the EAA Museum at Oskosh, Wisconsin where it remains on display having not flown for the past six years.

[ozzy72]

I understand, Mate. As I said, I'm not sure the project is still a 'viable' concern. It seems the web page has not been updated for some time.
This might suggest the failure of the project altogether.

I know that there would probably be hundreds of similar projects, with better chances of success, to become involved in. But, you know how it is, things come to mind...............etc

I will follow the progress of this project, more because it is Australian, and that particular plane did play a large part in "our war".

Who knows, I might get an answer to the email.......

[ozzy72]

Keep us posted Brensec. I for one would be interested. Heck I'd even offer to buy it off them if I win the Lottery this weekend

Ozzy

[Hagar]

Some more little-known gems from Hagar's endless supply of useless information.

[ozzy72]

Poor Herman. One thing I will give, he always seemed to give credit where it was due. I wonder if he "knew the jig was up" when he saw the Mozzies over Berlin............lol

I didn't know Holden were involved in this. (Traditional Australian car manufacturer - I've own several Holdens - Full name is General Motors Holden or GMH - they were and still are partly owned by GM).

[ozzy72]

Hi Hagar, I knew ALL of those facts. Your little education lessons seem to be making me more and more clever. Soon I'll know at least 4 things more than my name
I heard with the bombing of Berlin that Goering was making a speech and at the moment he said "A British bomber will never attack Berlin" the Mosquitos arrived.
I'm not sure if this is true, but it would be one of the great quotes of all time if it is......

Ozzy

[Professor Brensec]

Well..........I got an answer from the MAAA already. They sent me their latest Newsletter (April 2003).
It has a pile of info in it and some pics of the work that's going on. (It's in 'Acrobat format' so I can't copy the pics...............bummer)
They are getting technical support from the RAAF. The two Merlins are rebuilt and they're working on the props. Fuselage and bulkhead work is progressing (slowly). Wheels and undercarriage is yet to be started. There's also a pic that shows what looks like the two engine nacelles finished and painted. No mention in this newsletter about the wing though.
They are calling for Volunteers to help out doing anything that they are capable of doing. So if you're inclined. you can go to the warehouse and help rebuild the "Aussie Mossie" (as it's being called).
It's in Melbourne and I'm in Sydney (550 miles), so too far for me, but anyone in Melbourne can pop down. The Newsletter says all you have to do is arrive and they put a tool in your hand and put you to work.  ;D