de Havilland Museum, London Colney, Special Opening

It wasn’t in first flight configuration anyway.

I understand that completely. Thanks for clarifying.

The term ‘significant combat aircraft of ww2’, is usually used to define the claim. In effect, the P80 and the Meteor were wartime prototypes of post war aircraft, though both saw limited service.

The P-80 did see limited service in WWII mainly in Italy, but I am sure some pilot’s from 616 Sq would disagree about your comment of limited service.
Quote —“On 20 January 1945, four Meteors were moved to Melsbroek in Belgium. In March, the entire squadron was moved to Gilze-Rijen and, then in April, to Nijmegen. The Meteors flew armed reconnaissance and ground attack operations without encountering any German jet fighters. By late April, the squadron was based at Faßberg, Germany and suffered its first losses when two pilots collided in poor visibility. The war ended with the Meteors having destroyed 46 German aircraft through ground attack and having faced more problems through misidentification as the Me 262 by Allied aircraft and flak than from the Luftwaffe.”

Regards Duggy.

Doest it have to be a first prototype to qualify for this list of survivors?
There’s an (not the, but an) example of the XP-51 in the US:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-American-XP-51/1072289/L/

It could be argued that Auster MK.III MZ105 (VH-SNI) is the only airworthy prototype piston engined aircraft from WW.II. She was the prototype MK.II and is widely documented as such -converted to MK.III status with a Cirrus Minor engine .

I had no idea! Thanks for sharing.

Although I prefer the “first flight” configuration of E0234 it’s just wonderful to see the machine preserved. Well done to everyone concerned – it looks like there was a great turn-out as well, which is heartwarming to see.

It wasn’t in first flight configuration anyway. It was a bit of a mess, being pretty much entirely as it was at the time of the final flight, except for firewall forward. To return it to the earlier state would have meant replacing the tail, removing the aft section of the nacelles, and still making new cowlings.

The term ‘significant combat aircraft of ww2’, is usually used to define the claim. In effect, the P80 and the Meteor were wartime prototypes of post war aircraft, though both saw limited service.

Surely the prototype Meteor in Hendon is WW2 too???

On another note this prototype from WWII also survives.
XP-80 ” Lulu Belle”

I had no idea! Thanks for sharing.

Although I prefer the “first flight” configuration of E0234 it’s just wonderful to see the machine preserved. Well done to everyone concerned – it looks like there was a great turn-out as well, which is heartwarming to see.

That’s one of those big unknowns I’m afraid. The team know it happened. They don’t know why.

Was there a reason de Havilland painted the cowling red oxide? It seems an odd choice as a primer for alloy. Was it Red tautening dope being used because that’s what the factory had lots of in store?

I think the confusion lies in the fact that it is restored and painted in the scheme – as Bruce says – when it LAST flew in 1943.

By then it had two-stage Merlin 61’s – exactly as in the photos above.

When it FIRST flew (as E0234) in November 1940 it appears to have had an all-over light colour scheme (yellow?) (including the single-stage Merlin, short tailed nacelles).

All the above is from Wiki (yes I know!) – so shoot me down if I’v got it wrong… ??

Ken

Adrian,

The prototype is configured as it last flew in 1943, with engine cowlings in red oxide. As odd as it looks, that is how it last flew.

Bruce

Yes, ‘out’, is subjective. It can move a little way, but not all the way out. I understand they are planning to get all three outside in the new year for a photo shoot. Wait for that if your passion is pictures.

That was my suggestion I sent to Ralph Steiner and all staff at the museum last week. Suggested all three outside for a nightshoot, providing there is room to set up floodlights. Would do the museum a good deal of good as regards revenue and publicity.

Question – was the prototype rolled out 75 years ago with the engines still in unpainted red oxide primer, or did the team not have time to paint them for the re-enactment?

Nice pictures…were they able to repeat this on Sunday or did the weather prevent it?

I understand they are planning to get all three outside in the new year for a photo shoot. Wait for that if your passion is pictures.

Thanks for that heads-up Bruce, I’ll look out for that!

Today was very cold, windy and rainy but that didn’t spoil the event and there was a pretty good crowd of people to witness W5040 being rolled out (or to be more accurate) rolled half-way out!

I’ll post a few more pics up later on but for now, this was the scene:

W4050 de Havilland Mosquito prototype rolled out of hangar by sboreeves, on Flickr

More pictures:

The full album is here but here are a few more shots of W4050:

W4050 viewed from under the wing of de Havilland DH98 Mosquito B.Mk.35 TA634 by sboreeves, on Flickr

W4050 on display at the de Havilland museum. by sboreeves, on Flickr

de Havilland Museum volunteers stand in front of W4050 by sboreeves, on Flickr

W4050 Mosquito Prototype at the deHavilland Museum by sboreeves, on Flickr

W4050 Mosquito Prototype wheeled out of the hangar by sboreeves, on Flickr

No – the first prototype XP-51 Mustang survives in the EAA Museum. May be others, but that one sprung to mind.

It’s actually the fourth prototype – see: https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1941-north-american-xp-51-mustang—nx51na

What a fantastic restoration, simply stunning, hats off to all involved.
On another note this prototype from WWII also survives.
XP-80 ” Lulu Belle”

Yes, ‘out’, is subjective. It can move a little way, but not all the way out. I understand they are planning to get all three outside in the new year for a photo shoot. Wait for that if your passion is pictures.

I don’t think it’s been mentioned elsewhere on this thread – from the Museum website:

“The deHavilland Aircraft Museum is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito Prototype.
Friday 27th to Sunday 29th November 2015* Open daily from 11am until 3.30pm.
At 2.45pm on each of these days, the fully restored ‘The Wooden Wonder’ will be rolled out of the hangar to emulate the same event 75 years ago.”

My other half and I are going to be there tomorrow, our second visit to the museum, and it’ll be great to get back there…. I’m going to take plenty of photos, especially of W4050 outside the hangar, so will share a few for those who aren’t able to travel.

Best of luck !! I think your chances of getting good photographs outside are very optimistic. They have a large Marquee erected immediately in front of the hangar which will make any good photo opportunities almost impossible even if there are not any people about which is unlikely. I understand they did not roll it out yesterday in the end as planned due to the weather. Best of luck anyway !!

Duxman

I am sure I am not the only one who would appreciate a good photo opportunity, although knowing the museum site layout options are sadly limited. How good it would look on an open grass field ?

I don’t think it’s been mentioned elsewhere on this thread – from the Museum website:

“The deHavilland Aircraft Museum is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito Prototype.
Friday 27th to Sunday 29th November 2015* Open daily from 11am until 3.30pm.
At 2.45pm on each of these days, the fully restored ‘The Wooden Wonder’ will be rolled out of the hangar to emulate the same event 75 years ago.”

My other half and I are going to be there tomorrow, our second visit to the museum, and it’ll be great to get back there…. I’m going to take plenty of photos, especially of W4050 outside the hangar, so will share a few for those who aren’t able to travel.