Kiwi Mosquito Update?

[daveymac82c]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any news on this Mosquito (NZ2336 in New Zealand)?

I get the impression that the owner is nearing the age where he needs to make a decision about it. I just wonder how it's condition has faired and if he's eventually going to sell it. Not like I've got the money, but I like to keep up to date on surviving Mossies.

picture from www.mossie.org

The website mentions how the owner hates people buggin' him, which I totally understand, but it also says the Mosquito is stored inside now, along with 6 other planes. I'm very curious to know what those six other airplanes are. If anyone knows, I'd love to hear, on here, or PM.

Cheers,

David

[Dragonflydh90]

I visited just the other day, the aircraft is undercover and in as good a condition as one might expect.

[Curtis Block]

Recent photos?

[PeterA]

I popped in to see him on my way down to Wanaka a couple of years ago.

I did photograph everything but must respect his privacy. I think the RNZAFMus are keeping a watching eye on things.

Aircraft in barns will never surpass this collection.

It was great to see his enthusiasm was still so strong. We sat in the cockpit of the Mossie. The smell was perfect. It felt like you could almost press the buttons and go. "Where can I get the the correct cotton braided wiring for the Gunsight", he said. "It must be right".

Eccentric? Sure. We need more people like this.

PeterA

Last edited by PeterA on Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Flat 12x2]

Recent photos?

Here you go, latest 8 years old, but probably same as now.
http://www.integration.co.nz/aviation/Mapuamos.htm

http://www.mossie.org/NZ2336.htm

[daveymac82c]

Hey guys, thanks for the info.

And Dragonflydh90, what a privilege to go meet the man, and see the machine. The interior of the mossie looks fantastic, while the exterior doesn't look to grand. It looks like the starboard wing is having some significant structural issues which is sad to see.

Cheers,

David

[n5151ts]

I visited just the other day, the aircraft is undercover and in as good a condition as one might expect.

regardless of the disposition of the plane a big THANKS for SAVING IT and putting it inside. The mosquito is in my top 5 list of planes I would most like to have!

[daveymac82c]

Oh, I should write a little disclaimer for this thread:

I hope that this thread does not encourage anyone to try and get a hold of the owner to make him any offers on the airplane. I hope one day to meet him myself because I bet he's got a million stories to tell.

Come to think of it, I wonder what the highest offer he's gotten on his Mossie has been? I bet that those that are on good terms with him wouldn't dare bother him with questions like that.

-David

[PinecastleAAF]

WOW! What a time capsule. Never heard of it or seen a picture of it before.

Thanks! I hope it stays just the way it is or gets no more than an outside repaint.

[n5151ts]

WOW! What a time capsule. Never heard of it or seen a picture of it before.

Thanks! I hope it stays just the way it is or gets no more than an outside repaint.

needs to be made flyable then ----- raced of course!
well flown anyway

[PinecastleAAF]

It sure does not appear to need a lot of work to make it fly. Does the glue used to bond the layers together deteriorate after so many years? How could that be checked if no obvious visual problems were present?

Thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

Dave, having Met John myself and knowing a fair bit more about his background than most people here, I can indeed confirm he's a very interesting man with lots of tales to tell. However if you ever get the opportunity to meet him yourself, do not ask anything about previous offers - don't even mention anything to do with money. He has literally run people off his property for such. Also do not bowl up to his door and ask if you can see his aeroplanes, he'll tell you to go away. You wait to be invited to look, that is the only way. Sometimes he won't invite people even after a two hour conversation about aeroplanes on his doorstep.

His aircraft are in safe hands and much loved, and we in NZ are very thankful to him for saving these treasures when no-one else bothered. His Hudson has recently left his collection and is being restored by another collector to static condition which is great, as it is a very historic airframe being the aeroplane that George Gudsell flew into combat from Guadalcanal, where he won the US DFC.

[Dave Homewood]

By the way, the Mosquito won't fly again. John is dead against people flying warbirds!!

[JDK]

It sure does not appear to need a lot of work to make it fly. Does the glue used to bond the layers together deteriorate after so many years? How could that be checked if no obvious visual problems were present

Wartime Mozzies were glued with Casein or Urea-formaldehyde glues. Once they have deteriorated, the whole aircraft needs to be rebuilt - essentially a wood replacement exercise. You can see if there are (original) voids by ultrasound or other NDT but most of those methods might show if some of the gluebonds have 'let go', but can't prove it's safe. Generally, provided it's been looked after properly, the wood can be OK, but again, like casein, it's an organic medium - wet, damp, insect infestation or whatever will start a process of deterioration.

When built (properly) this de Havilland wood construction method is an excellent structure for a high performance aircraft - but it wasn't intended to be used decades (let alone a half century) later. Building all new wood and using the original metal fittings, as Glen has done is the smartest way of getting a Mosquito into the air in the 21st century. I'll ask Bruce from the DHHM to post.

HTH.

[PinecastleAAF]

James,

Thank you for the information. That is more or less what I thought. I think the a/c should remain static for several reasons. My hat is off to the owner for saving it.