Wooden Mosquito - British Version
Sep 30, 2017 17:27:54 #
I didn't realize that the British Mosquito war plane of WW II was made of wood. With newly-discovered plans, they may be building more of them.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/06/discovery-lost-ww2-mosquito-plans-will-allow-wooden-wonder-fly/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/06/discovery-lost-ww2-mosquito-plans-will-allow-wooden-wonder-fly/
Sep 30, 2017 23:44:34 #
I was lucky enough, a long time ago, to be able to sit in a restored but not flight-worthy DH Mosquito FB IV. Maybe now, I will get the chance to buy a flying version? However it's engined, I'm sure it will fly rings around my Cessna.
For those who don't know the history of this remarkable airplane, it was designed and built by a small team in England in the dark early days of World War Two, in defiance of the British Government and Air Ministry, who would rather the De Haviland Works built wings for other manufacturers current bombers.
Ignoring the Officials, the DH Team rapidly put together a very trim and streamlined aircraft, powered by two RR Merlin engines, with the fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces made entirely of a very strong yet light plywood, with balsa being the central "meat in the sandwich"! The biggest surprise (to all but De Havilland) was that the resulting prototype was relatively easy to fly, very responsive on the controls... And at least 20 miles per hour FASTER than any other aircraft in the World, at that time.
The aircraft had been designed from the start to be fast enough not to need defensive armament (which would only have added weight & drag, and thus slow it down to the speed of the enemies fastest fighter aircraft), and throughout its long career (last one was produced in the early 50's) never needed defensive guns. It was however soon built with a powerful offensive armament of four 20mm cannon and four .303 machine guns, and subsequent fighter and fighter-bomber versions were built with provision for up to eight 60 lb rockets. Several were fitted with a 37mm gun, which "ruined the whole weekend" of several German U-Boat crews...
The "Wooden Wonder" remained a potent and almost uninterceptable day & night bomber, fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft, throughout its long and illustrious career. It certainly remains as one of the most beautiful aircraft ever to have flown.
For those who don't know the history of this remarkable airplane, it was designed and built by a small team in England in the dark early days of World War Two, in defiance of the British Government and Air Ministry, who would rather the De Haviland Works built wings for other manufacturers current bombers.
Ignoring the Officials, the DH Team rapidly put together a very trim and streamlined aircraft, powered by two RR Merlin engines, with the fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces made entirely of a very strong yet light plywood, with balsa being the central "meat in the sandwich"! The biggest surprise (to all but De Havilland) was that the resulting prototype was relatively easy to fly, very responsive on the controls... And at least 20 miles per hour FASTER than any other aircraft in the World, at that time.
The aircraft had been designed from the start to be fast enough not to need defensive armament (which would only have added weight & drag, and thus slow it down to the speed of the enemies fastest fighter aircraft), and throughout its long career (last one was produced in the early 50's) never needed defensive guns. It was however soon built with a powerful offensive armament of four 20mm cannon and four .303 machine guns, and subsequent fighter and fighter-bomber versions were built with provision for up to eight 60 lb rockets. Several were fitted with a 37mm gun, which "ruined the whole weekend" of several German U-Boat crews...
The "Wooden Wonder" remained a potent and almost uninterceptable day & night bomber, fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft, throughout its long and illustrious career. It certainly remains as one of the most beautiful aircraft ever to have flown.
Oct 1, 2017 06:42:02 #
As a kid, my favorite books were 'Biggles' books about a WW2 Mosquito pilot. Any other Hoggers out there remember them?
Oct 1, 2017 07:22:26 #
I vaguely remember the BBC "Pathfinders" tv series from the seventies, a fictitious programme about a Mosquito Squadron.. recounting the dangers they faced leading the bombers on night time bombing raids.
Oct 1, 2017 07:42:48 #
My DAD was on reserved occupation during the war. He and his dad had a caravan building business before the war and were skilled in bending and moulding sheet wood (plywoods etc.) They supplemented the carpenters in High Wycombe area who skills were mainly used for 'solid' wood parts. There was a local exhibition just last week in High Wycombe museum, but I was unable to make it.
I'm not sure about this, but I think the U.S.A.F. had a squadron at Chalgrove (that bit is true) that may have flown mossy's on photographic reconnaissance missions in WW2.
I'm not sure about this, but I think the U.S.A.F. had a squadron at Chalgrove (that bit is true) that may have flown mossy's on photographic reconnaissance missions in WW2.
Oct 1, 2017 08:32:09 #
I don't know how relevant this may be to Mosquitos but 'Biggles' was a very popular child's fictional hero in the middle of the 20th century.
His date of birth was always uncertain, rather like that of Sherlock Holmes, though he certainly saw service in the Great War.
Instead of Dr. Watson, his constant companions were the rather 'upper class' 'Algy', and the 'other ranks' 'Ginger'.
The books were written by a 'Captain W.E. Johns', though whether this was an actual human or a factory I have never found out.
I don't remember any specific association with Mosquitos, though Biggles was active in Sopwith Camels, and on one ocassion an expedition in a Supermarine Walrus to, I believe, South America.
There was also an also identical female aviator by the name of 'Worrals'; in those more innocent times few of us considered that she might be Biggles in drag . . .
His date of birth was always uncertain, rather like that of Sherlock Holmes, though he certainly saw service in the Great War.
Instead of Dr. Watson, his constant companions were the rather 'upper class' 'Algy', and the 'other ranks' 'Ginger'.
The books were written by a 'Captain W.E. Johns', though whether this was an actual human or a factory I have never found out.
I don't remember any specific association with Mosquitos, though Biggles was active in Sopwith Camels, and on one ocassion an expedition in a Supermarine Walrus to, I believe, South America.
There was also an also identical female aviator by the name of 'Worrals'; in those more innocent times few of us considered that she might be Biggles in drag . . .
Oct 1, 2017 09:10:02 #
Because iron and aluminum were so scarce, a lot of British planes used wood. The Spritfire, for example, used a lot of balsa which is light and, for it's weight, very strong. I read an article on carbon fiber composites which described that material as "very long chains of carbon atoms and other organic components with a lot of the same characteristics of wood" (although much, much stronger).
Oct 1, 2017 09:41:10 #
fourlocks wrote:
Because iron and aluminum were so scarce, a lot of British planes used wood. The Spritfire, for example, used a lot of balsa which is light and, for it's weight, very strong. I read an article on carbon fiber composites which described that material as "very long chains of carbon atoms and other organic components with a lot of the same characteristics of wood" (although much, much stronger).
Yes, carbon fiber is the building material of the future, and it will become cheaper to produce.
Oct 1, 2017 12:04:29 #
BB4A wrote:
The "Wooden Wonder" remained a potent and almost uninterceptable day & night bomber, fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft, throughout its long and illustrious career. It certainly remains as one of the most beautiful aircraft ever to have flown.
There were a couple of Mosquitoes among the models hanging from the ceiling in my bedroom fifty-odd years ago. I thought that the Mosquitoes ranked with the Spitfires and the Mustangs as the most beautiful aircraft.
Mosquitoes in Mufti
In addition to their uniformed service with the RAF, Commonwealth air forces and at least one USAAF unit, civilian registered Mosquitoes were used by BOAC during the last three years of the war to carry high value cargoes and/or an occasional single passenger on a UK - Sweden route.
Oct 1, 2017 13:26:14 #
What I have read about Mosquitoes, the plane was a real bad ass. German on the ground hate it because it was build to fly low over the ground.
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