FirebexNo Longer a Rumour
The project is up and running and so is the web site
FirebexHi,
I did call the person and he described it as“a griffon engine 5 bladed spinne from Malta, so it must be from a Sea Hornet”.
The only problem I saw with this ID was that Sea Hornets had merlins with 4 blades, so I didn’t persue it.
Many thanks,
There where a lot of Sea fires based at Halfar !!!!
FirebexThe fuselage frame of an Agricola was donated to the Midland Aircraft Preservation Society (fore runner of Midland A.M.) about 1968 – haven’t got my records to hand – along with an AOP 9 fuselage. I’m pretty sure the frame was that of VP-GAZ.
A couple of years later the two frames were exchanged for some ‘slightly bent’ Tiger Moth wings (to be used in the restoration of Fox Moth G-ACCB) with the South Wales Historic Aircraft Preservation Society.
I’m not sure what happened to the two fuselages when SWHAPS closed down some years later.
I’ll see if I can find my photo’ of the two fuselages on a hired self-drive truck about to depart for South Wales.Roger Smith.
I Owned VP-GAZ from around 1969 ish until the late 1970’s sadly I do not know where she went to after that as a lot of stuff I had in storage was kindly sold on for me along with the Setty Murder Auster G-AGXT. I think TAC might have been the benificiary of both but understand that some confusion may have taken place and the they had a coupl eof frames and the srong frame with the wriong identity got swapped with something else if that makes sense.
FirebexWell sort of.
Vampire design and Mosquito design are completely different. The shapes are nothing like one another. Its a common misconception.
Similarly, the bulkheads are not steel; they are aluminium. The Vampire is a very clever design; all the work is done by the fuselage steel spars, which support the wings, and the engine. Essentially, the wood is a fairing to stop the pilots getting cold. There’s a bit more to it than that of course, but thats the basics!
Bruce
Yes sorry late in the day I meant to say Aluminium instead of steel.I dont like to question an expert Bruce but I am sure I have read somewhere that they had a lot in common and some of the production process was very similar ?.
FirebexOne of the ones acquired for 633 squadron maybe? One that they chopped up for cockpit filming? And wasn’t one of the cockpits also recovered after they’d reused it in Mosquito Squadron?
Where do you think that where Bruce is and Tony Agar got their bits from ?.And if anyone mentions the records office in Lancashire thats also in Tony’s airframe or what was salvageable as a lot of it got burnt and I think I am right in saying part of the Port wing is from that aircraft along with a bit of tail and a lot of metal work.
I think a good bit of the film set stuff such as cockpit etc from Mosquito Squadron and 633 are also resident at Elvington in one form or another.
Firebex[QUOTE=SADSACK;1743337]
A society needs to be set up to either complete the Elvington example or build an airworthy example from scratch.
I am not knocking the work of the owner. On the contrary, I can only praise highly the work of a man who has given us the only chance of a working Mosquito on this side of the world, not least a unique variant.
However if, and only if, he were willing, I don’t see why a group could not be set up to continue the restoration as I am sure deep down he would love to see his a/c fly.
Another option would be to build a new one with original parts, ie data plate.
I am sorry but you asre Missing th eplot somewhere along the line.The Mosquito at Elvington is contructed from parts of at Least 7 airframes plus other parts.The centre section has a splice in it that would never ever be permitted in a war time accident damage mosquito let alone one today.If the rear fuselage only was damaged fine you can do something if the outer 6 feet of wing is damaged fine it is permissable to repair but a composite airframe with multiple splices in places that would make DH cringe can only ever mean one thing.The aircraft cannot and will not ever ,ever,ever be capable of flying.A lovely aircraft and testament to Tony’s dedication and something that will survive and be ground running for all to see for a very long time and has been said for the forseeable future the only semi live Mosquito in the UK.But sorry it will only ever be capable of that.
Firebexcurrently got about 8 for sale Red,Amber and Blue.The clear ones seem to be the rare ones of the breed as I have only ever seen a couple.
Mike E :diablo::diablo::diablo:
FirebexA lot of people dont realise that a Vampire is made in exactly the same way and I know Bruce will correct me if I am wrong but essentialy a T11/T55 is basically a Mosquito fighter bomber cockpit area with two steel bulkheads inserted one just in fron tof the windscreen and to carry the loads etc of the nose wheel and the rear one just foward of the main wing spar line to form the firewall for the engine bay.And to hang other things on.:diablo::diablo::diablo:
FirebexLate spit throttle box/parts!
Might have some PM me with exact wants
FirebexParts wanted for Whirlwind Cockpit
Whirlwind Fighter Project
Tel; 07803-809883
Fax; 01765-688784
[email]mike@firefly53.freeserve.co.uk[/email]
http://www.whirlwindfighterproject.org
Items Wanted
Undercarriage indicator Dowty type C.5302A or C.4558 6A/582 or 6A/619
Mk IIIA 8 day clock
Fire Extinguisher Button 21F 388 2 off
Switches type 5C/930 or 5C/543 2 off
Suction gauge type 6A/757 2 off
Fuel gauge Smiths mk IV 6A/1525
Engine RPM Gauge Type mkIVA or mkIVB 2 off
Boost Gauge mk IIIG 6A/789 2 off (alternative 6A/699 or /767 or /701 or 768)
Oil Temp gauge MkIA or MkIH 2 off
Oil Pressure gauge either yellow or brown 6A/538 or 539 or 542 or 543 or 546 pair.
Radiator temp gauge Mk VI 2 off
Gun Camera film unit type 14A/1035
Voltmeter 5A/1693
Morse switch 5C/372
P6 Compass 6A/367
Remote contactor
Dowty warning horn C4705 5C/1603
Fuel Gauge 6A/1007 327FG or 6A/1008 328FG
Oxygen Regulator either 6D/124 or 6D/476
Triple Switch 5C/544
Switch 5C/545
Operating Bars 5C/2732 and 5C/2733 1 of each.
FirebexProject wants list
If anyone can help out thats going to any of the fests greatly appreciated.
Mike E.
Whirlwind Fighter Project
Tel; 07803-809883
Fax; 01765-688784
[email]mike@firefly53.freeserve.co.uk[/email]
http://www.whirlwindfighterproject.org
Items Wanted
Undercarriage indicator Dowty type C.5302A or C.4558 6A/582 or 6A/619
Mk IIIA 8 day clock
Fire Extinguisher Button 21F 388 2 off
Switches type 5C/930 or 5C/543 2 off
Suction gauge type 6A/757 2 off
Fuel gauge Smiths mk IV 6A/1525
Engine RPM Gauge Type mkIVA or mkIVB 2 off
Boost Gauge mk IIIG 6A/789 2 off (alternative 6A/699 or /767 or /701 or 768)
Oil Temp gauge MkIA or MkIH 2 off
Oil Pressure gauge either yellow or brown 6A/538 or 539 or 542 or 543 or 546 pair.
Radiator temp gauge Mk VI 2 off
Gun Camera film unit type 14A/1035
Voltmeter 5A/1693
Morse switch 5C/372
P6 Compass 6A/367
Remote contactor
Dowty warning horn C4705 5C/1603
Fuel Gauge 6A/1007 327FG or 6A/1008 328FG
Oxygen Regulator either 6D/124 or 6D/476
Triple Switch 5C/544
Switch 5C/545
Operating Bars 5C/2732 and 5C/2733 1 of each.
FirebexI did make the same suggestion on a previous thread – IMHO it would help raise the profile of the project! 🙂
Hi great idea but as I think I did sayu I am out of the country the week before and not able to get stuff together for it if someone else is willing to help out great.
Any offers PM me please
or direct [email]mike@firefly53.freeserve.co.uk[/email]
FirebexIf you ever get stuck for any other identitifying Spitfire numbers let me know we have a very comprehensive library of drawings I think nearly as much as most of the Companies building flyers.
Also a lot on other WW2 types (not german sorry).
FirebexHi Mike
I’m having problems registering for membership of your Project on both your original web address and your current one!! I fill in the required details but when it comes to the final line – asking me to “type in the two words you see below” – there are no words visible !! My registration attempts fail each time. Any idea what the problem is?By the way – I’ve replied to your PM re Ray (‘Shedman’) some while ago and haven’t heard back from you – did you get the message?
Cheers
‘D1ck’
Hi No I have not received anything from you at all I thought you had forgotten us.
Dont know why you are having log in trouble try your cookie settings as the site tend to be a bit funny if you dont accept cookies.
FirebexOk I give up who screwed with the altimeter again !!!!!!
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