On Saturday 7th March, a small team gathered at the de Havilland Heritage centre, to assemble Mosquito TA122 for the first time since the late 1940’s
This aircraft is the only surviving FBVI in Europe, and has been undergoing a detailed restoration for several years. Work will now concentrate on the fitting of the landing gear and wheels, along with the manufacture of the leading and trailing edges.
With this year seeing the 50th anniversary of the formation of what is now the de Havilland Heritage Centre, this is a highly appropriate way to celebrate!
Picture courtesy Philip Birtles, DHAHC.
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd May 2009 at 22:53
Very nice. I’ll be there soon…
By: HuwJHopkins - 17th March 2009 at 18:29
Sorry Huw, wrong quote!- you asked me where i am!
Ohh I see! My dad live sin Welwyn too so I live there aswell:)
Cheers, Huw:)
By: Oxcart - 17th March 2009 at 17:21
Sorry Huw, wrong quote!- you asked me where i am!
By: HuwJHopkins - 17th March 2009 at 16:46
…In Welwyn Garden City-Britain’s answer to Las Vegas!
Eh?…
By: Oxcart - 16th March 2009 at 23:59
Fantastic! Must get a visit in soon, seeing as I only live 2 miles away:p
Cheers, Huw:)
…In Welwyn Garden City-Britain’s answer to Las Vegas!
By: jeepman - 16th March 2009 at 21:10
Bruce, with all the spotlights firmly and fairly on TA122 at the moment, how’s the refurbishment of the prototype W4050 coming along?
By: HuwJHopkins - 16th March 2009 at 20:46
A bit late in replying as I have been busy the last few days!
Went down on Saturday to take a few photos and met a couple of the team whilst they were working on TA122, putting the tail wheel on and the tail fin (I think). I didn’t realize the politics of weight going on in her current status, with the nose being armour plated she is very nose heavy (even with the guns out!) so the tail has to be strapped down nice and tight! The addition of the tail wheel that takes 4 men to lift has helped with the weight balancing:D A big well done for the team, she’s a stunner!
Here she is:
Was also nice to meet BSG-75 too:)
Cheers, Huw:D
By: JonL - 16th March 2009 at 05:11
The Mossie looks like a big aircraft when you stand beside it, but boy, was it cramped inside!!! We were not very big at the time, my friend and I, and didn´t wear the flying clothing of 1940.
I had a similar feeling the first time I squeezed into a Lancaster cockpit many years ago when I was younger and skinnier…..
I was in there with a chap who flew Halifaxes during the war, and he couldn’t believe how tight it was, either……
The Mosquito population is certainly looking healthier than it was..
By: galdri - 14th March 2009 at 20:21
Really great news:D You can never have too many Mossies!
I´ll never forget the day in August 2000 when me and my friend visited the Museum and had a chance to sit in the cockpit of the prototype:D Just great! The Mossie looks like a big aircraft when you stand beside it, but boy, was it cramped inside!!! We were not very big at the time, my friend and I, and didn´t wear the flying clothing of 1940. It was still positively cramped in there. Looking out the window and seeing the two massive Merlins on each side, I could just about imagine the noise in there with 1940´s headsets/flying helmets on. My admiration for the men that flew Mossies into battle grew a lot after that visit to the cockpit. They were made of sterner stuff than I´am!!
This is a late big THANK YOU to they guys at the museum for the chance to experience this:D:D
By: BSG-75 - 14th March 2009 at 17:16
Why would you wanna see them? 😀
Its a burden I know….. but my other love after aircraft… season ticket etc etc:mad:
Popped up to see the Mosquito though – looking very good, it will make a nice pair with the B35 on display when its complete. Bruce’s guys deserve the plaudits. Met up with Huw as well, who was given a guided tour of the FB VI “up close” and personal.
By: XH668 - 14th March 2009 at 11:09
and when Spurs are on TV as well….:eek:
Why would you wanna see them? 😀
By: BSG-75 - 14th March 2009 at 10:42
We’re already open – come one, come all!
Bruce
Daughter has a ballet show this afternoon, which means that my son and I need to over compensate and do something a bit more “bloke” based,:D so we’ll head on up.
Our turn for ballet tomorrow….. and when Spurs are on TV as well….:eek:
By: Junk Collector - 14th March 2009 at 09:05
The wing has been apart to virtually nothing, with the ribs mostly replaced or repaired. The spar had to have a six foot repair at one end. All the skinning is new, as are many of the stringers.
Big job for (mostly) 2 people…
Bruce
Definately an outstanding achievement, I remember reading in Flypast many years ago when it was recovered well done to all !
By: mark_pilkington - 14th March 2009 at 08:45
Excellent news, congrats to all concerned.
The Mossie has been my number one favourite since growing up with a Mossie canopy as a home made cockpit plaything, my brothers, friends and I did many missions smiles, and I gained a great affection for the type.
Its a shame only one of the FBVI models have been preserved in the UK, (and for that matter now no TIII’s) but great work by the “Mossie Museum” to acquire the fuselage and then the Israeli wing to bring TA122 and the type back from the brink, I look forward to seeing it up close one day.
Regards
Mark Pilkington
By: jeepman - 14th March 2009 at 08:45
Wonderful job – have you seen this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIiieWvcRK0
bet you wish it went together that easily……….
By: dhfan - 14th March 2009 at 08:13
An amazing job and true dedication. I saw the wing when it arrived and found it hard to believe it could ever be repaired.
By: DazDaMan - 14th March 2009 at 08:09
Excellent stuff! 🙂
By: Bruce - 14th March 2009 at 08:05
The wing has been apart to virtually nothing, with the ribs mostly replaced or repaired. The spar had to have a six foot repair at one end. All the skinning is new, as are many of the stringers.
Big job for (mostly) 2 people…
Bruce
By: Junk Collector - 14th March 2009 at 07:57
That is the wing recovered from Israel is it not ?
took many years to get to this stage if it was, why did it take so long was the wing in poor shape ?
By: QldSpitty - 14th March 2009 at 00:42
I second…Well done and congrats,keep the work going…
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March 13, 2009 at 1:23 pm