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Mosquito question

Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:18 pm

Today I was lucky to visit with Robert Jen in Vancouver BC.

His Mosquito is slowly progressing and is quite a sight to see.

There is a lot of history to that ex Spartan bird.

It just daunted on me that this might be the last Mosquito to take to the air with its original structure.

I.E. all or most of the airworthy restoration of Mossie's will most probably be with new remanufactured structure from down under.

Now, onto the question. Do any of our friends from downunder know how close they are to remanufacture the wings ?

It took them years to recreate the fuse. But what is the status on the wings ?

BTW, just follow the link. It looks like Mr Yagen is also getting a Ki61.

Boy does that look like a nice & complete airframe ?

http://www.fighterfactory.net/airplane-gallery/kawasaki-ki-61-tony.php

Image

Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:51 pm

Thanks for the update Michel.

Do you have any photos of Bob Jens' Mosquito you could post? Also, was his Spitfire XIV also in the hangar? Any plans on flying the Spitfire do you know?

Cheers
Al.

Yup....

Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:02 pm

Yup....

I got pictures....in film that is. So I need to get them processed eventually.

His Spit has not flown since he got it. He actually view this as a combo hobby / investment.

It does however get its share of taxi to local airport event and they are planning to do full power test very soon. The AC is maintained to a high level of airworthyness.

This is a very rare AC with RCAF history. It actually has its original engine attached to it. Total airframe hour is 160..... :shock:

They where very few concession made during restoration. ex the cartrige starter was replaced by a regular unit.

Will post the pics when I get them...Like a million others.

Al, got to ask looking at your Avatar. Did you get to see Mr. Russel colection ?

Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:12 pm

I have seen Russell's collection on a few occasions. My avatar photo of the Me-109 was taken when owned by David Price (also not my photo!)

Thanks for the Spitfire info. It's good to see that the aircraft is well looked after and ground run occasionally. Be nice to see in the air though.

I thought that the TZ138 had been somewhat "Americanized" during it's restoration?

Looking forward to the photos.

Al.

Americanized.....

Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:10 pm

Americanized.....

I think Americanized should be converted to practicalized.

If you want to operate such a bird, it needs to work in todays environment.

What I have on technical deviations seems to me minor issues.

Honestly. I would rather see it wear a washed down matte paint scheme than a glossy one. But hey........guess what pays for these :wink: Public exposure.

I told Mr. Jen that it would be nice to repaint the Mossie with the Spartan colors. God they looked nice. His answer; waaaaa whom will be interested. And I understand hime very well.

Point is I do not mind having the airframe modernised in order to be displayed. However, sometime the paint scheme annoys me.

And honestly, paint is a hell of a lot more obvious than the velcroed gps in the cokpit.

Cheers.

On a side note, I will be in Toronto soon. Let me know if you are interested in a beer or 2 with sight seeing.

Take care

Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:31 am

There was a Mosuito purchased in the 1940's and based briefly here in Nashville, Tenn. by Jesse Stallings. He had it painted as an air racer and sold it several months later. He was in the process of starting an airlines called Capital Airways. Does anyone know if the Mosquito still exists and what N-number it carried?
Thanks

Re: Mosquito question

Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:26 pm

Michel Lemieux wrote:It just daunted on me that this might be the last Mosquito to take to the air with its original structure.

I.E. all or most of the airworthy restoration of Mossie's will most probably be with new remanufactured structure from down under.

What about RS700???

Re: Mosquito question

Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:34 pm

Mike wrote:What about RS700???


So was it sold? Where?

Jim

Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:41 pm

To the UK, according to these links....

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=40230

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38740

Stallings Mosquito from the late 40's

Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:06 pm

Hello all:

Stallings flew in the 1948 Bendix in N66313, listed then as a DH Mosquito Mk 25. It's race number was 81. I have a pic of it in an old book but no scanner at this point.. :(

That N-number currently belongs to a Beech C-23 so whether or not his old Mossie exists anymore is uncertain at best..

Cheers,
Hiergehts

Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:46 pm

Fantastic! You guys never cease to amaze me. Stallings must have sold it soon thereafter. I wonder, hypothetically, if a Mosquito if race modified could be competitive at Reno?

Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:37 pm

Stallings N37878 was sold to Mark Hurd for use as an aerial mapper, but while in Las Vegas an air bottle for the pnuematic brakes exploded, blowing a hole in the side of the fuselage. That was the end of N37878! :(

T J

Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:57 pm

what.........no wood glue?????

Pic of Mosquito N66313

Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:41 pm

Here's a shot of N66313 around the time Stallings flew it in the '48 Bendix.

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm.php?id=r ... 2&rd=94127

What a gorgeous machine.. :wink:

The Mossie's always been near the top of my "all time, most beautiful" a/c list.

Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:58 am

Oops... Made an error in saying that Stallings had two Mosquitos. Of course that was McVicar. :oops: And here is N37878 with the new cargo access door.... :roll: :wink: :lol:

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm.php?id=r ... 94131&hs=0

T J
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