Restored Mosquito Tail Shake, Common? Dangerous?

[Firebird]

I never witnessed anything like you describe on BAe's RR299 whenever I saw that land, or indeed on Kermit's B.35 when I saw that fly in the UK just before being flown across the pond when Kermit bought it.

Thread title is a bit misleading as well, as if referring specifically to Kermit's B.35, that was an original aircraft, not a 'restored' one as such.

Indeed, when Jerry Yagen's FB.26 does fly soon, it will be the first rebuilt/restored Mosquito to fly.

[over/out]

You're BOTH right! Firebird & Baldeagle, I should have titled this as "Week's" Moquito instead of "restored", and I should have noted; problem "For ?" future restored ones (2 so far). As Baldeagle noted everthing was O.K in 1990, I just got in touch with a WIX reader in San Antonio who was there ( but does'nt want to go online). He said that yes he does remember hearing the people around the Mosquito talking about what I had told Kermit and that the problem was indeed fixed there. He "Thinks" it was a tail wheel shimmy ( but not 100% sure) and/or having to do with the way the plane was being landed ( tail up, Power settings, ect..) either way, this gets REALLY COOL NOW! My friend told me that anyone can even see the Mosquito make one of the later landings at the show after the problem was solved on DVD! The tail goes down fine!, He told me to look out for a DVD titled: "WARBIRDS VOL. 2 " at a "Family Dollar" store with a Dauntles and yellow/red nose P-51 on the cover for $1.00! and it has a program titled"WABIRD CITY" about the 1988 Breck. airshow. The address for the DVD is: www.bcieclipse.com. Sure enough I found a copy and got to see it myself! COOL! Thanks Again, Wixers great info! Anthony

[dhfan]

DH did have problems with tailwheel shimmy on the Mosquito. It was cured by use of the twin contact Marstrand tyre, invented by Major O. J. Marstrand and made by Dunlop, which came into general use during the war. I knew it was a Marstrand tyre but I didn't know who he was. A quick Google came up with Flight - 18/01/1951.

[AvroAvian]

Learn something new everyday! I never knew there was a proper "brand" name for the twin contact tail wheel tyre, or who invented it. I was only aware of its purpose. Thanks dhfan!

[dhfan]

I wasn't far ahead of you, I only knew what it was called.
Who he was and what made him come up with the idea I haven't a clue.

Quote from Flight
"Marstrand Tyre Award
The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors has recommended an ex-gratia payment of £2,250 to Maj. O. J. Marstrand, inventor of the twin-contact aircraft tyre. Taken up by Dunlops, who recognized its value for preventing tail-wheel shimmy without restricting manoeuvrability, the Marstrand tyre came into general use during the war."

I'm not sure if that means Dunlop and not Marstrand worked out it would prevent shimmy. If it was Dunlop, what did he think it was for?

[Holedigger]

Probably ALWAYS going to be a slightly "IFFY" thing when flying a brand new rebuild. Little quirks can be quite dangerous. Slow and steady. Taxi first, resist the urge to just take off and go! Years of work could be spoiled by one moment of haste. The Mossie is on my list of TO SEE warbirds...so many I have not seen and probably never will see fly at this point.