The late great DH.103

Originally posted by Graeme C
was there a big size difference between the mossie and the hornet?

Too lazy to go and get my specs and sort out a suitable book for an exact answer.
The wingspan of the Mosquito was 54ft 2in and, I think, the Hornet was 45ft or thereabouts.
Again from memory, I think the Hurricane was/is about 40ft so with just over 4000hp, no wonder it was quick.

Have you seen the “Picture of the Month” in A***plane magazine?

A nice shot of PX244.

was there a big size difference between the mossie and the hornet?

i would love to see one. Maybe one day

There’s a couple in a paddy field off the end of of one of the runways on Singapore. Mid-air collision on finals, apparently, and went in too far to get them out.
Bloke in my local was an RAF engine fitter at the time and saw it happen but I can never remember which station it was.

I dont actually know the state of the Scottish project at present.

I have a feeling that its become moribund though – certainly havent heard from the guy for a while.

So dont hold your breath!

Bruce

Theres the ex Spartan Air Services centre section for sale in Canada, I think I read that the owner wants $xx just to view the remains.

A few years ago I was speaking to an ex RN ‘erk’ who if I remember correctly was in the fire fighting dept., he said that he remembered that the remains of Sea Hornets & Firebrands that were used for fire practice, were bulldozed into a pit that the dozer had dug & were still there as he still worked on the same site in a civiy role(still a MOD site). These weren’t ‘burnt to dispose of’, just for emergency practice, so the airframes were still substantial. Also of a Sea Hornet that had overshot the runway & had sunk in a bog & was not recovered. I did offer this info to the DH museum, but was told that there’s ‘loads of reports of buried aircraft’ & there all the same as the mythical pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Isn’t it possible that 1+ of these stories could be true ?
My dad worked on Hornets when with 64 sqd & has got some great pics that he took. Hence my interest in this great, forgotten & possibly the ultimate piston powered fighter.

Last I heard,the DH Museum at London Colney were working with a chap up in Scotland with the aim of building a static example. I expect Bruce can tell us more…
Nice pics 🙂

Sometimes forget just what a beautiful aircraft that was.

Pity they are no more 🙁

Moggy