Hi everyone, Since publishing this video, we need to make a couple of clarifications: - Slats were installed on the Mosquito Prototype following a recommendation from the Air Ministry, as a safeguard, rather than a mandatory requirement. - Some Internet sources suggest that the proposed Mosquito turret was for defensive armament for the bomber version. However, the surviving documentation is clearer that this was for a proposed night-fighter variant. - We have discovered that a French twin-engined Potez 567 landed on an aircraft carrier in 1936, and a US Lockheed XJO-3 landed on the USS Lexington in 1939. So the Mosquito can only claim to be the first British twin-engined aircraft to land on a Royal Navy carrier. - Although “Seasquito” sounds like a brilliant name for the naval version of the Mosquito, the correct name is “Sea Mosquito”; I got a bit tongue-tied when saying that on the video! Sorry to disappoint you.

@freakyflow

2 ай бұрын

Question : I know there was a "Tse Tse" model with a 57mm Auto fired Cannon.. There was a rumor of a 96mm Cannon test after the war which worked However after the tested the aircraft was scrapped. Any facts to this?

@Demun1649

2 ай бұрын

The Potez landed on MN Bearn, the second REAL carrier after HMS Eagle. The Bearn served from 1927 until 1967.

My father was invited down to the embryonic museum to give information. He was flying recce out of the Middle East where he was the CO. He got attacked by enthusiastic Mustang pilots from the USAAF when returning over Austria Italy border. They were supposed to be his escort but thought the plane was German. On several occasions when challenged by a German plane he would either turn and fly directly towards them then if needed dive away knowing that the Mossie would pull up nicely close to the ground or just climb away. One attacker did follow him down but due to poor piloting did not pull out and clipped a hillside. He always said that instructing at the beginning of the war felt far more dangerous than flying the unarmed beautiful Mossie. His navigator who was with him throughout, was also able to fly the plane in an emergency. He would be delighted today to see the Museum flourishing and Mosquitoes taking to the skies again. Many thanks for posting such an interesting video.

What a truly miraculous aircraft. Nearly eighty odd years later and it still produces surprises.

@seriousmaran9414

8 ай бұрын

The design philosophy of the Mosquito was passed on to the English Electric Canberra. At least a couple of the B57 variants might be still in use with NASA and other Companies.

@KathrynLiz1

4 ай бұрын

Yes... the first aircraft to use "composites"..... a lot of modern fighters use the same principle but with urethan foam and carbon fibre instead of balsa and ply...

My dad helped to build that prototype Mosquito.... he did mention the slats. He also mentioned the glue problems that they eventually solved with the Urea/Formaldehyde adhesives.... We have an outfit here in NZ that builds Mossies for those with deep pockets. I have seen one of them fly at a local airshow..... impressive...

@outthere9370

2 ай бұрын

I have witnessed the 1st public apparence of a Mos. that was purchased at the end of WW2 here in N.Z.. Purchased by a local "collector" it sat in a shed until the owner recently passed. Funny, I work with a guy that as a kid was allowed to "play" inside this plane. What a marvel to stand watching the 1st "public" start up after restoration!!! It will never fly I understand but what a beauty!! Just magic. ❤

My wife's great uncle was a manager at the de Havilland plant in Canada. He had a painting in his office of a couple of Mosquitos doing a low level attack - I have that painting now. Given how versatile, and successful it was at pretty much everything, it seems likely it would have continued to be developed had the war continued. Best aircraft of WW2.

@johncrispin2118

8 ай бұрын

Thanks , wasn’t the Hornet the Mossies descendant, ? But all too late jets had taken over and De H’avilland were busy at the cutting edge of that, ie Vampire / Venom

@wideyxyz2271

5 ай бұрын

@@johncrispin2118 and still using wood and alloy technologies. Bloody amazing.

I applaud KZreadrs who say 'May not know' rather than the 'You don't know' or 'You get wrong' sort of click bait claims, which I instantly block.

@bensmith7536

2 ай бұрын

Bravo. Social media cancer.

Fascinating video. The biggest surprise: that concrete mould. I think that the Mossie was the most versatile aircraft of WW2 - excelling at whatever role it turned its hand to.

Another thing many people don't know, the U.S. Army Air Corp flew more than 140 Mossies in photo recon, weather recon and night fighter roles.

@Adrianmazda6

8 ай бұрын

They also flew Spifires as well!

@KRW628

8 ай бұрын

The Mossie was MUCH cooler than the Spitfire.

@stevecook7551

8 ай бұрын

And the bulk of them were built for the Air Corp In Downsview by DHC .

@peebeedee6757

8 ай бұрын

@KRW628 - In Summer 1942, Col Elliott Roosevelt, the Presidents son, arrived in England with two squadrons of P-38 P5,’s Photo Recce, to work up alongside RAF Photo Recce units prior to Operation Torch in N Africa and was given use of a Mosquito for evaluation. The different capabilities of the two aircraft led him to petition General Arnold to re-equip with the Mosquito but the M.I.C. dollar spoke and Arnold directed him to look Stateside and eventual controversy over the Hughes D-2. Nevertheless, returning to Europe after Torch, Roosevelts 325th Photo Wing WAS equiped with two squadrons, 653rd and 654th, with Canadian built Mosquitos which gave stirling work for the B-17’s and B-24’s in the Eighth. These two units flew over 3200 missions and remained active right to the end of the war in Europe.

@markfranks1329

8 ай бұрын

​@@KRW628I don't believe that was his point.

One of my favorite model kits as a kid. Fond memories.

Arguably the best plane of WW2.

@smartazz61

Ай бұрын

Here here! I can't rest on a favorite though. I love the B17 because my Pop was a B17 Captain. The P38 has always taken my breath away. If you haven't come across it yet, look into the P38 & Charles Lindberg. Lindberg was a huge help to the P38 program. He taught them how to adjust the engines for maximum range & longevity. He laid his reputation & life on the line for that effort.

@austin2842

Ай бұрын

@@smartazz61 I can't argue with that. The personal connection to history is worth so much.

Main reason the "Highball"bouncing bomb wasn't used was that it was intended for the Tirpitz. After the Ruhr dams raid, the Germans figured out that Tirpitz would be a target and took care to always park it in a position where it was impossible to bounce a bomb at it. Barnes Wallace's tallboy bomb did for it in the end.

@andrewjacobs3219

8 ай бұрын

In one of the RAF attacks on the Tirpitz I seem to remember that it was 617 and number 9 squadrons that carried out the attack .

@andrewwaller5913

8 ай бұрын

​@@andrewjacobs3219Correct, several near misses and direct hits caused Tirpitz to capsize, 12 November 1944. Lancasters of 9 and 617 Sqns with none lost during the attack.

My dad was an RCAF engine mechanic based in England. While in his downtime, he cut and filed down a block of aluminum into the shape of a Mosquito. I proudly have possession of this Mosquito. He also did something similar with a chunk of plexiglass, but made a Spitfire instead. He gave that one to his sister upon his return, so I’ve never seen it, or know if anyone in her family still has it.

I work at the factory that produced the glue that bonded the wood together. We still produce adhesives for aircraft all these years later

@philgee7249

4 ай бұрын

Was the 'mossie' glue cured by a rudimentary type of 'microwave oven' process?

@dannymiester5825

4 ай бұрын

@@philgee7249 I dont know, possibly. Way before my time lol

@Oligodendrocyte139

2 ай бұрын

@@philgee7249​I doubt it. Wasn’t the microwave oven developed post war?

Very good, i didnt know how they formed the fuselage , I will try to get down to take a look at the museum and as i was a member in the early 70s it will also be a trip down memory lane.

@MrDaiseymay

8 ай бұрын

Those Mosquito's that were built from scratch, in New Zealand, for rich American clients, were made from one brand new wooden mold, made from scratch, by a Kiwi, years before, without which, it would have been impossible to recreate that beautiful Master of the skies.

@williamkennedy5492

8 ай бұрын

Thank you @@MrDaiseymay

The "Mossie" is an icon, the aircraft and the men who flew them x As a favourite aircraft type of mine I thought I knew all about it, but this video was well worth the watching!

I helped in the refurbishment of that little building next to Salisbury house back in 1997/8? Forget the exact year but it was a wonderful time. I was working with someone called David who flew his DH Dove based at Fairoaks. Very happy days.

Great video - the more I learn about the Mosquito, the more impressed I am. Would love to have flown one (but not with other people shooting at me!)

@kathrynwhitby9799

8 ай бұрын

would be a millionaires dream to have an airworthy replica made.

@austin2842

Ай бұрын

@kathrynwhitby9799 Someone posted elsewhere in the comment section that there's a company in NZ that makes replica mossies for those with deep pockets.

I understood that the Air Ministry original specification called for a turreted fast bomber, and it was because the DH prototypes with fairings only proved so fast that they looked at not having defensive armament at all, with the clean lines and lack of weight giving it sufficient speed to enable it to exceed a performance level for a targeted bomber.

@peebeedee6757

8 ай бұрын

Not quite. The 1936 AM spec P.13/36 had called for a twin engined light bomber/recce aircraft with defensive armament. Right from the start, Geoffrey de Havilland proposed a fast light aircraft with no defensive armaments, therefore outside the spec requirements and never submitted a proposal for it. He stuck to his guns for two years until the AM eventually awarded him a unique one off spec B.1/40/dh. The RAF could have had the Mosquito two years earlier but for their intransigence.

Mosquitos were built not far from where I currently live in Toronto Ontario. As in Britain, Mosquito production took advantage of the large fine furniture industry that was currently under utilized due to the war. Its astounding how quickly they were able to pull together a team to build what was a very unique aircraft.

Very interesting points. The Mosquito is my favorite British WWII aircraft.

Living not very far away from the museum the "Mossie" has always been a favourite.I even played my small part in getting HJ 711 to East Kirkby.

The Mosquito had both propellers spinning in the same direction of rotation. Having opposing rotation would be beneficial for various aspects of plane handling. Rolls Royce made versions of the Merlin with opposite rotation of the propeller - so why was this never fitted to twin engine planes such as the Mosquito?

@paulmaxwell8851

2 ай бұрын

Excellent question!

Excellent video. I learned much from it. Don't really no why, but the Mosquito was one of just a few aircraft that fascinated me as a boy. Still fascinated by them today.

The Mosquito is one of my favorite WWII aircraft. Some planes were great but, well, ugly. But the Mosquito (Spitfire, Mustang...) were awesome and beautiful. A couple of these I did know but I didn't know they had a version fitted for the bouncing bomb. I always wondered why this weapon wasn't used or at least tried against the German submarine pens. If they weren't, there must be a reason. You weren't (easily...) going to crack them from above and if they had nets to block torpedoes. But skipping a bomb into the opening seems to me to have been worth a try. Wonderful video. The Wife and I did the Ambrose Band of Brothers tour in 2019. Loved the parts of England we did get to see and museums like this make we wish we could go back. Maybe someday... Cheers from Arizona!

Great things to learn about the mosquito. My uncle William Stranks always told my cousin that he landed the first mosquito on a carrier, but looking at the photos I think he may have been Eric Browns copilot. I also have coveralls and tool box of one of the master cabinet makers from the DeHaviland factory at Downsview in Toronto Canada. There is a photo of a mosquito construction crew at Downsview with a young Aubrie Price who told me that he did every radio check on every mosquito and lancaster that came out of that factory.

From here in the States we say Bravo for this excellent video! Thanks for sharing and the very best of luck!

Before my time but to me it remains one of the most marvellous aircraft ever. Thank for the interesting facts.

Shame the 8th USAAF didn’t substitute Mosquito’s for B-17’s. Aircrew losses would have been much lower

Very interesting video, I did not know about concrete being used. Hope to visit your museum one day.

Brilliant! Thanks!!

Excellent!

So well done! Just subscribed. As a Mosquito fan I did not know most of these facts, cheers.

Great video! Keep up the (very) good work!😀

Very informative and enjoyable to watch.

Fantastic! Always great to learn some new details about the fantastic plane. In the past I used to read books about planes, now it is your videos that satisfies the hunger for knowledge of these things. Thank you for putting it together and sharing!

Great vid. Thanks.

Brilliant presentation. Thanks

I only knew about the bouncing bomb. Somewhere I’ve seen footage of the bomb bouncing back up and striking the mosquito after release, tragically resulting in the loss of the aircraft and crew. Great video. I’ve subscribed.

@richardvernon317

8 ай бұрын

Did happen to a Mosquito but I've never seen the film. Did happen to USAAF A-26 fitted with the Weapon and that did take the whole tail off (though the bomb was dropped from a stupidly low height.).

@seriousmaran9414

8 ай бұрын

I believe also happened to a Lancaster bombers via water splash damage. The bombs had to be released at very low altitude to avoid the outer case shattering on impact.

@richardvernon317

8 ай бұрын

@@seriousmaran9414 You don't have to believe, there is film footage of it happening to a couple of aircraft in the practice drops done by a number of 617 squadron crews in the days before the Dams Raid. One aircraft was so badly damaged that it couldn't be repaired before the raid.

@seriousmaran9414

8 ай бұрын

@@richardvernon317 more me distrusting my memory.

@richardvernon317

8 ай бұрын

@@seriousmaran9414 If memory serves the two pilots who did it were Les Munroe and Henry Maludsley. it was Maludsley aircraft which was the one most badly damaged (an elevator got ripped off).

Splendid work, thanks for taking time to do this.

Well done. Thanks for posting.

This was my FAVOURITE aircraft. *I LOVED THE MOSQUITO, AND WISH I HAD BEEN ALIVE TO FLY ONE!*

Fascinating talk, and yes, I wasn't aware of many of them!

I visited the museum about a year ago. Thought it well worth the effort.

In around 1966 I visited Salibury Hall and the then curator of the museum let me sit in the cockpit of that prototype !

Magnificent aircraft ,and surely Eric winkle Brown must be one of the greatest ever pilots

Very interesting information. Thank you for sharing it.

Love LOVE the tongue tied guide near to the end of the video. It's one of the highlights ! Aside from this, the Mossie is the most unsung hero of WW2 skies !

@lawriegreen8374

8 ай бұрын

Truly indefatigable

@MrDaiseymay

8 ай бұрын

bloodyshowoff Our Navy called many a massive Battleship, such bloody silly names. As if any ship could be fatiqued, @@lawriegreen8374

I had the pleasure and privilege of working at DeHavilland/Hatfield from 1990 until being moved to Woodford in 1994.

Fantastic information. Many thanks :)

Very interesting video indeed ! Thanks a lot.

Thanks awesome to hear more fascinating facts about this priceless piece of ingenuity. My dad worked for De Havilland and RR. He was an engineer during WW2 helping keep the birds airborne. He was also in the Royal Flying Corp during WW1, he was a great engineer and knew so many of the great names. I still have his Merlin Operators hand book with the RR library stamp in it. Also the De Havilland Gipsy Queen series 70 handbook Volume 2 and many more. To me, priceless, however I'm now 73 and a bit knocked around so Im at a loss as to the best people or organisation to pass them on to.

Fantastic info. Thank you.

As a WWII aircraft enthusiast, and fixing dozens of Airfix models in my childhood (including a 1/72 Mosquito) I must admit I did not know ALL the 7 things that I should know. I had no idea balsa wood was used as a sandwich material. I thought it was all laminated plywood. No idea about the slats, turret, carrier landing, sea mosquito, bouncing bomb. I knew they were mostly used for reconnaissance. And that they were fast!. Great video!!!!

@joeshmoe9978

8 ай бұрын

Same here 👍

@alfnoakes392

8 ай бұрын

I saw the first of the reproduction Mossies being made by Avspecs here in NZ (and then later flown). I knew about the balsa-sandwich method, but was surprised it was such a thin layer of balsa, I had for some reason always imagined greater thickness to provide more of a 'box' and therefore make it 'stiffer'. As we know, the resulting monocoque structure was enormously strong.

@pashakdescilly7517

2 ай бұрын

If I remember correctly, the balsa was used on end-grain, not parallel to the grain of the plywood skins.

@EllieMaes-Grandad

2 ай бұрын

@@pashakdescilly7517 Such bias use adds strength. Works with fabrics too.

Really interesting video with some interesting facts about a great plane

Thanks for thw video Simply one of the best (and most beautiful ) aircraft of rhe war.

No.8 you did not know. The reason for using wood was NOT the shortage of aluminum, although that was true, but the fact that the production workers had been Piano makers pre war and were skilled in the use of wood. Skilled staff in the use of aluminium were as common as Dodo droppings.

@johndavey72

2 ай бұрын

Have no idea how you or where you obtained this incorrect information .

@davidelliott5843

2 ай бұрын

Wood was used for many reasons. DeHavilland had considerable experience with its use and the Air Ministry were not interested in fast bombers. Make the plane with wood meant DeHavilland did not need permission to use aluminium - which the ministry were not going to give.

I've known about the use of balsa wood for donkeys years. The use of a mold as well but not that it was concrete. Great video.👍

I learnt something new today about my favourite WW2 aircraft, concrete moulds 👍

Great info!

Thank you on two accounts. 1. Your use of the verb 'may' (rather than is customary on YT, 'don't') is deeply appreciated. 2. I didn't know there was such a place as the de Havilland Aircraft Museum. I'll must visit.

Good one! Thanks! :)

Apparently, when the mosquito aircraft was out in the far east, because of extreme humidity, they had problems because of the wood construction, and it affected its structural integrity?

@NVRAMboi

2 ай бұрын

I believe that is true and was factored into the theaters where it was used.

Great video...👍

Beautiful aircraft 🏆

Thank you. Excellent video. I have subscribed.

@deHavMuseum

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

My father was in the same squadron as Winkle Brown. They were both Scots and good friends. Near the end of his life Winkle remember by father well .

Thanks + I do plan to visit one day.

You got a like just for adding the may in the heading ;)

Was there in 2022 in that heat wave in August from Glasgow also did RAF Hendon. It was more or less two miles from my hotel so no excuse. Great wee museum and well worth the visit. Even seen cutaway engine, one opened up turning over.

I own an early Bentley Mk VI. Its first owner was Mr. Edward (Teddy) Rosen who joined Marconi in the Post Office Wireless Department in 1911. During World War I he joined the Royal Flying Corps where he serviced radios. In 1920 he founded Ultra Electric Limited where he was keen on delivering quality radio sets at a reasonable price. During World War II, Ultra Electric Limited turned production over to equipment for the war effort including manufacturing parts for the De Havilland Mosquito (Ailerons and assemblies).

I'm amazed that the air frame of a Mosquito could survive a carrier landing. Simply creating a hard point for the arresting hook would have been a major design challenge.

@dave_ecclectic

8 ай бұрын

If you remember they started out with wooden aircraft. I'm pretty sure the swordfish or whatever their name was, were wooden aircraft that jammed the Bismarks rudder.

@dacramac3487

5 ай бұрын

Look for this video: Capt. Eric 'Winkle' Brown: the first Mosquito carrier deck landing

@tedwarden1608

2 ай бұрын

@@dave_ecclecticthe swordfish was constructed out steel tubing.

@dave_ecclectic

2 ай бұрын

@@tedwarden1608 Well my point of them starting out with wooden aircraft is still true. Before the Mosquito, the Fairey Swordfish deserves mention. Although it wasn’t entirely wooden, it had a significant wooden structure. The Swordfish was a biplane torpedo bomber used by the Royal Navy during World War II. Its airframe featured a combination of wood and metal components. Despite its antiquated appearance, the Swordfish played a crucial role in naval operations, including the famous attack on the German battleship Bismarck in 1941. The Swordfish was affectionately known as the “Stringbag” due to its fabric-covered wings and fuselage. So the swordfish was transitional from fully wooden aircraft and fully wooden aircraft (the Mosquito.) That doesn't happen very often.

I wish he had shed light on a characteristic I have heard rumored about Mosquitoes, that Vmc was so high that losing an engine on takeoff resulted in certain loss of control and rollover crash due to low aileron authority. The philosophy was that this known defect was acceptable in wartime.

@petegarnett7731

Ай бұрын

Doubtful. It was remarkably aerobatic on ONE engine, suggesting ample control.

@ggibson511960

Ай бұрын

@@petegarnett7731It would be interesting to know. Some of today's high performance aircraft have this treacherous trait. Mitsubishi MU-2's are death traps for pilots not familiar with this flaw. Knowledgeable (safe) pilots rotate then accelerate to Vmc in ground effect, a neat trick. Superficially, the Mosquito looks like it would have high axial inertia and low roll authority with two heavy engines on its low aspect ratio wings. Aerobatic ability at speed doesn't help counter asymmetric thrust and P-factor from a powerful engine, and drag from a dead prop on a yawing taildragger. I don't know if Rolls made counter rotating Merlins to avoid having a critical engine. As docile an airplane as a King Air can fall victim to single engine failure with an unskilled pilot.

Wow, some cool facts about an iconic aircraft. It looks like the museum is well worth a visit! Is there still a Mosquito in flying conditions?

@deHavMuseum

8 ай бұрын

There are no Mosquitos flying in the UK at the moment. Although I have heard that there are people planning to bring one to the UK in the future: flyaspitfire.com/2023/02/06/mosquito-at-biggin-hill/

@koenmentens

8 ай бұрын

Hopefully we will see one flying in the future. A big thumbs up for al those people who keep te history of all this historic planes alive. Especialy the ones in flying condition!@@deHavMuseum

@andrewwaller5913

8 ай бұрын

There are currently 4 Mosquitoes flying in the USA and Canada with a 5th almost complete. There are 2 current projects for airworthy Mosquitoes in the UK in a few years time.

@koenmentens

8 ай бұрын

Thx. Good news, looking forward to see them in the skies@@andrewwaller5913

@chrismartin3197

8 ай бұрын

The currently flying Mossies are mostly new-built. There was an original T III, but it sadly crashed in the 90s. There is a B 35 that flew in the US, but it is very unlikely to ever fly again

Cool thank you I'd never heard of the slats, the turret and th U.S. considering production either. Thanks very much!

7/7 did not know. Thank you. :)

Great Stuff! Enjoyed a lot, first timer and I have of course done the sub n like. Bob England

This is one of the few 'things you didn't know' videos that hasn't disappointed me.

But WHY did they use concrete? Did you know that Canadian Mossie's used a bar of rubber in the main landing gear in stead of compressed gas? Did you know that De Havilland Canada developed a method of stamping compound curves into the metal that made up the fuel tanks in the Mossie, the original design was made up of multiple sections welded together which took longer and were somewhat unreliable. I read a book about the Canadian Mossies as the Mossie is one of my favorite aircraft of WWII, unfortunately, many years ago, I lent the book to someone and never got it back, still miffed about it. Looking forward to your Mossie vids.

@seriousmaran9414

8 ай бұрын

Concrete is easy to mould, strong and very cheap. Minimal cost, maximum production.

@MrDaiseymay

8 ай бұрын

Excellent, how interesting, that two great countries New Zealand and Canada, of mainly British stock, but half a world away from each other. could successfully face, and solve, similar production problems, yet solve them THEIR WAY, using local materials . We Brits are Proud of you both.

@davidchilds9590

8 ай бұрын

@@seriousmaran9414 plus, it does not change size or shape with either temperature or humidity - which was an issue at some manufacturing locations.

@HarryYoungberry-io7tg

8 ай бұрын

The prototype Mozzie used rubber in the landing gear. The whole idea was to use as little metal and the simplest methods of manufacture thus bypassing the need for highly skilled metalworkers who were needed elsewhere. It was designed to be built by furniture makers. A lot of original ideas went into the Mozzie.

@MrT67

7 ай бұрын

​@@MrDaiseymay Cheers from NZ. The three Mossies that are operational in the US were restored in NZ. I've also heard the same people have got parts for a Hornet kicking around.

Interesting tidbit about the bouncing bombs. My father-in-law flew with the Brits (he was a Canadian, I'm unsure if his unit was RAF or RCAF) out of India against the Japanese. They flew B-24 Liberators and skipped conventional bombs into the sides of ships from 50 feet off of the water. Quite a feat with a B-24 since they were flying British crew complements, meaning no co-pilot and the B-24 being notoriously heavy on the controls.

Awaresome Thankyou

Thank you.

The USA did use them I think for recon mission flying from the UK

Very interesting, didn’t know any of them save for Canadian production. They might not have been produced in the US but the USAAF certainly used a fair number in the European theater, in the bombing, reconnaissance and night fighter role, (along with Spitfires), Lend Lease was not totally one way. Likely these examples came from Canadian plants?

The concrete mould one for each half of the aircraft was not subject to size changes like a wooden or steel mould would. The hole and shapes in it are for reinforcing components and structural elements, these where fed into the mould and the plywood balata plywood structure laid and glued up on top. Once set the complete half could be removed from the mould and was then loaded with it half of equipment before the two halves where glued and screwed together. It was then sanded down and and covered with Doped Irish linen giving a smooth weatherproof finish. The Fuselage skin was a composite structure meaning very little framing had to be done internally. With some modification it could carry a 4,000 Lb Cookie Bomb. This shows the structural strength of the fuselage and wings all made of wood. The design was ahead of its time, composite structures are still in use today normally in high end structures.

You're Right! I Did Not Know Those Things & I Am A Mosquito Fan Having Watched Several Documentaries & Read Two Autobiographies, One By W.C. J.R.D. Braham & The Radar Ops Who Flew With John Cunningham, C.F. Rawnsley. I Would Give Anything To See One, Even In A Museum. Thank You.

Brilliant! You need concrete to build a wooden aircraft: mind blowing! Thank you for a fascinating video. Liked and subscibed.

Fascinating. It's a real shame that there are no complete examples of the Mosquito's fiestier little sibling, the Hornet. If folk are impressed with airworthy Mossies, an airworthy Hornet would surely be the next level. Eric Brown said the Hornet was possibly one of the most exhilarating aeroplanes he ever flew. Though, I believe those aircraft sent out to the Far East, including the Mosquito, suffered with glue de-bonding in their wooden structure owing to the tropical humidity, an issue that I believe was eventually resolved.

Thank God we had intelligent who found out the best wood to use .

I did know most of the things you talked about ( vconcrete foemers etc )

@mickey1299

8 ай бұрын

I didn't know about the turret , or the concrete . Kinda unsurprising really though , cheap and simple . I've got the parts to make a tmk33 sea mossie , and also the highball bouncing bomb , somewhere around this place . Errr model that is !!

Well worth the visit if Ur a Mosquito aficionado

I love this aircraft! My Great Aunt built these during WW2 at what is now London Luton Airport

"North of the 49th parallel" ... OK, that's a euphemism for "Canada". The deHavilland aircraft factory was in Downsview near Toronto which is only 43 degrees north. Other than that, I didn't know any of this, especially the bouncing bomb plans! Thanks for an interesting video.

I have read that the Air Ministry requirement at the time was for a 3rd crew member, hence the 'turret' design. Officials were not convinced that a two man crew with 'airspeed' as it's main defence, would be sufficient. Fortunately DeHavilland resisted the Air Ministry Boffins and turrets were never fitted. Perhaps the prototype having had a turret was a demonstration exercise to convince the boffins it was not a good idea.

At 4:48, what was the name of that aircraft carrier again? Hah! Very interesting video.

Thankyou absolutely fascinating. Pity then that in the UK the country of its birth we do not have a flying example.

@jimihendrix991

8 ай бұрын

RL 249 is being restored to air worthy status... (in the UK)

I wish we Americans had put Mosquitos into production. In my opinion the Mosquito is the coolest of all time Airframe.

@petegarnett7731

Ай бұрын

The U.S. firms that had the opportunity to assess the situation as potential builders all decided that it would not be viable. ( I think they believed wood was too old fashioned to build a modern aeroplane from.)

I enjoyed that very much. There is one thing that has me wondering though, and that is how Mosquitoes were repaired when they had sustained damage from flak and bullets.

@mikeneill6813

8 ай бұрын

A novel question. I'm sure we'll get an answer maybe a video. Regards.

@davidchilds9590

8 ай бұрын

Just like any other aircraft: you cut out the damage and replace it, putting in reinforcement where needed (in accordance with published repair schemes). If just the fin or one wing were damaged, I would expect that to be replaced, complete. I believe a lot of damaged Mosquitoes were scrapped. That would have thrown up a stock of replacement parts.

you can fly one on Digital Combat Simulations flight program. Very well done!

Awsome

It's a tough call, Mosquito or Spitfire, I've always leaned to Mosquito. Old "Hap" should have been a better salesman. Lancaster wins for the heavies. They did some escorting for the 15th Air Force when they were in Libya . I don't recall the pilots name who gave my father a ride - but the navigators nickname was "Tiger" I believe I am correct in saying the "Ministry" also did not want the design to include counter rotating propellers to save cost but would have increased torque and made flying on one engine difficult. Maybe those slats could have helped. The crews who flew these magnificent aircraft were extremely talented and brave. Im anxious for "The Shepard " to launch in December. (new subscriber)

@peterballan7952

8 ай бұрын

You echo exactly, my own favourite aircraft of WW2, Spit, Hurricane, Lanc and Mossie.

@c123bthunderpig

8 ай бұрын

@@peterballan7952 great to know another aficionado of these incredible aircraft. My bookshelves are full of books on all of them. I believe the pilots and crews became one when they flew. Oh and there is an excellent short movie that tells an awesome story coming out in December entitle " The Shepherd " about a lost Vampire including one of our favorites , written by John Forsythe . Cheers