Mosquito gets finishing touches

[Dave Homewood]

Nothing new from me I'm afraid Chappie, but keep watching the WONZ thread:
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?bo ... 07&page=14

[JDK]

Ben, no offence taken, but please consider what I wrote was to provoke thought not just reaction - if it just seems dumb, maybe question some assumptions. But please don't feel it needs another screed. I'm not posting one, and I don't think anyone would thank us.

I'm just a reporter - and I'm certainly not a wannabe engineer or even a pilot, though some of the latter I talk to occasionally when I'm feeling nice...

My opinion (and posts) is formulated from close monitoring of the projects, and a quarter-century ("Makes a girl think!") of reporting on warbirds, and as previously here, I usually back up my opinion with data, usually gathered firsthand from practitioners. Doesn't make me or them 'right', but equally it's not just a random thought.

As an aside, sadly I never wrote up the article I prepared on RR299 for Warbirds Worldwide which did include interviews with the flight engineer and pilot - as a week later they were dead.

Regards,

[cwmc]

I'm diggin' on this Ben guy!
Chris...

[Firebird]

The pilot I mentioned above who I thought had flown the BAe Mosquito and now flies the Vulcan is Bill Ramsey, but I may have been mistaken, he was a former BBMF Lancaster pilot so may not have any Mosquito time.

No, he doesn't have any Mosquito time.

Only BAe TP's flew RR299.

I must admit I'm struggling to remember some of the names from the last half dozen years or so (much older RR299 display pilots such as Pat Fillingham and ex-RAF Lightning pilot, Tony Craig, spring to my older mind though )
One name linked with Vulcan XH558, that might well have flown RR299 in her last years during the 90's is Al McDicken, who was a senior BAe TP during this time, and was the TP selected to conduct the first few post-restoration flights of the Vulcan several years ago (he also had Vulcan time as a RAF pilot, as well as while a BAe TP)

[airnutz]

Welcome Ben! Nomex skivvies and a dogged determination to have a few simple questions answered...or at the very least acknowledged and understood...that's the ticket! It's all downhill from here...

[Baldeagle]

I had several rides in Kermit's Mosquito when I worked for him, and would be happy to ride in the new Mosquito as an experienced right seater......



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[RobC]

TROLL FIGHT! TROLL FIIIIGHHHTT!!!

[WIXMOD-Baker]

Be nice, people.

[marine air]

So far this year I have flown 14 different aircraft types. Last month I got asked to fly a Columbia 400, an EAA Biplane, test fly a Hatz Biplane, and deliver a SWIFT GC-1A.
Sometimes I'm the right guy for the job, sometimes not. SOmetimes you have to turn down an opportunity. I passed on the EAA Biplane after I was told the delivery pilot ran it out of oil and was looking for a field when he "just flew it another 5 minutes to it's destination. The Hatz biplane test flight was offered by the guy that told me a year ago he was going to be the test pilot. THe swift was annualed after 28 years sitting and most recently the instructor pilot had to make a deadstick landing in it.
Can't speak for Mr. Weeks, but he would probably like to. Sometimes the risks outweigh the rewards. It's not on his "have to do" list. He's outlived many of his friends in the aerobatic and warbird community.

[jack973]

WWII Mosquito bomber being restored by Calgary volunteers
in Featured Article, War Articles / by Jack / on September 3, 2012 at 14:00 /

FROM THE FIRST MOMENT Patrick Anderson stepped over the plywood threshold and into the De Havilland Mosquito bomber, he knew he had a serious job to do.

It was Nov. 1, 1944, and over the next 400-some days until the Second World War’s end, the 21-year-old 410 Squadron flying officer would sit beside the pilot, clutching cumbersome radar equipment he used to intercept enemy jets. His business-like resolve rarely escaped him; he didn’t give in to the pretentious glory of war — romantic notions that have enchanted those looking for heroes.

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/feature ... teers.html

[Dave Homewood]

A couple of brand new photos were posted on the WONZ thread tonight:
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?ac ... 07&page=15

[ErrolC]

While not directly showing his test-pilot skills, here are some contrasting displays from Dave Philips:

Hunter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYCjM-vQOks

Tiger Moth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Deao1tNI ... ture=g-u-u


I'm so looking forward to the end of the month!

[Dan Jones]

I don't know who it is that is preparing to fly the airplane or anything about him, but if he's an Air Force trained pilot, an Empire Test Pilot School grad, and someone intimately familiar with the airfield and surrounding countryside and airspace, the airplane will be in very good hands. Even more valuable than having a "tactile familiarity" (is that a real term?) with Mosquitos in general is having an in depth operational systems knowledge of the Mosquito aircraft design in general, and the small nuances of THAT Mosquito in particular. I'm not saying that anyone else wouldn't have or doesn't have that knowledge and skill set, but you can bet that the guy who will be doing the test flying knows the systems on that airplane inside out and backwards (probably helped build many of them), will know the emergency procedures absolutely cold, has spent dozens of hours in the cockpit practicing the memory recall drills and checklist procedures, knows the cockpit blindfolded, and has already written the test card and flight plan.

I wish I could be there to watch.

By the way, Eric Brown is still with us - maybe he'll do it.

[JDK]

I wish I could be there to watch.

Some of us are making that effort...

By the way, Eric Brown is still with us - maybe he'll do it.

True! However Eric has hung up his flying gloves, but I'm sure is as interested as many others of us in hearing of the successful flight. I don't go a bundle on the hero thing, but there's no doubt that Captain Brown is the most accomplished pilot I've ever had the privilege to meet.

Meanwhile, while the speculation about drivers, aeroplane, continue here, the other guys are working flat out to ensure there's an aircraft ready to fly...

Regards,

[Dan Jones]

Good Morning, James.

Be careful... The pilot in question may very well have dirty hands this morning and a spanner in his backpocket as we speak!

Take LOTS of pics!!