More Mosquito footage, some good quality stuff.
The de Havilland Mosquito was a British combat aircraft that excelled in a number of roles during the Second World War. It served with the RAF and many other air forces both in the Second World War and postwar. The Mosquito was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Merlins with the pilot and navigator sitting side by side. In the conceptual design stage, de Havilland designers found that adding any defensive armament would significantly reduce the aircraft’s maximum speed. Realising that the loss in performance was not worth the benefit, the initial bomber version was designed without any guns. The various roles of the Mosquito included: tactical bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike and photo reconnaissance aircraft.
The de Havilland company conceived the idea of a wooden aircraft to take advantage of the underused resources and skills of the furniture industry at a time of great pressure on the conventional aircraft industry combined with wartime shortages of steel and aluminium. The Air Ministry was initially not interested in the innovative approach; de Havilland, under chief designer Ronald Bishop, developed the Mosquito on a speculative basis. The ministry became interested when they saw the Mosquito prototype’s performance. Throughout the 1930s, de Havilland had established a reputation in developing innovative high-speed aircraft such as the DH.88 Comet mailplane and DH.91 Albatross airliner that had already successfully employed the composite wood construction that the Mosquito would use.
Construction: The bulk of the Mosquito was made of plywood. Stronger and lighter than most grades of plywood, this special plywood was produced by a combination of 3/8″ sheets of Ecuadorean balsawood sandwiched between sheets of Canadian birch plywood. Like a deck of cards, sheets of wood alternated with sheets of a special casein-based (later formaldehyde) wood glue. The fuselage was formed in concrete moulds. Left and right sides of the fuselage were fitted with bulkheads and structural members separately while the glue cured. Reinforcing was achieved with hundreds of small brass wood screws. This arrangement greatly simplified the installation of hydraulic lines and other fittings, as the two halves of the fuselage were open for easy access by workers. The halves were then glued and bolted together, and covered with doped Madapolam fabric.
The wings were also made of wood. To increase strength, the wings were made as one single assembly, onto which the fuselage, once both halves had been mated, was lowered and attached. Metal was used sparingly in the construction of structural elements. It was mostly used in engine mounts and fairings, control surfaces, and, of course, brass screws. The glue used was initially casein-based. It was changed to a formaldehyde-based preparation when the Mosquito was introduced to fighting in semi-tropical and tropical climates, after some unexplained crashes led to the suspicion that the glue was unable to withstand the climate. De Havilland also developed a technique to accelerate the glue drying by heating it using microwaves.
In England fuselage shells were mainly made by E. Gomme, Parker Knoll and Styles & Mealing. Wing spars were made by J.B. Heath and Dancer & Hearne. Many of the other parts, including flaps, flap shrouds, fins, leading edge assemblies and bomb doors were also produced in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which was well suited to these tasks due to a well established furniture making industry. Dancer and Hearne processed much of the wood from start to finish, receiving timber and transforming it into finished wing spars at their High Wycombe factory. Around 5,000 of the total 7,781 Mosquitos ever made contained parts made in High Wycombe.
The specialized wood veneer used in the construction of the Mosquito was made by Roddis Manufacturing in Marshfield, Wisconsin, United States. Hamilton Roddis had teams of dexterous young women ironing the (unusually thin) strong wood veneer product before shipping to the UK.
General characteristics (DH.98 Mosquito B Mk XVI)
Crew: 2: pilot, bombardier/navigator
Length: 44 ft 6 in (13.57 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
Wing area: 454 ft² (42.18 m²)
Empty weight: 14,300 lb (6,490 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,100 lb (8,210 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 25,000 lb (11,000 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin 76/77 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,710 hp (1,280 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 361 knots (415 mph, 668 km/h) at 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
Range: 1,300 nm (1,500 mi, 2,400 km) with full weapons load
Service ceiling: 37,000 ft (11,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,850 ft/min (14.5 m/s)
Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft² (195 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)
Armament: Bombs: 4,000 lb (1 800 kg)
Avionics: GEE radio-navigation
Duration : 0:8:45
[youtube -cb6SmK_c2g]
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I don’t know who’s …
I don’t know who’s country is responsible for the ‘Mossie’ I always thought it was British. But I don’t care because whoever made it, it was the most versatile craft of WW2, taking on more roles than any other plane. Superb aviation wonder!
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Bombs were carried …
Bombs were carried in a bomb bay within the fuselage.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I have a question? …
I have a question? Where were the bombs released from on the mosquito bomber? Were they released from fastenings connected to the wings or from beneath the engines or body of the aircraft? Its hard to tell from this video because they don’t specify.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
For facts about de …
For facts about de Havilland, rather than speculation, supposition, misinformation and insults, I recommend the wikipedia entries on the company and the Mosquito. As far as I can tell, they are accurate summaries. I also learnt something new about the company, not least that in addition to the Canadian operation, there was a similar one in Australia. And that the Canadian subsidiary was once owned by Boeing before becoming part of Bombardier. The truth, as ever, is rarely pure and never simple.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Why do you call me …
Why do you call me and Oaf and insult me? i didnt insult you, You act like a child, please use some maturity. Its just a youtube video afterall.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
CrazyCanuck129: Yes …
CrazyCanuck129: Yes, crazy indeed. De Havilland of Canada was an offshoot of De Havilland of England you silly little oaf. The D.H. company was eventually absorbed into the British Aircraft Corporation, like Avro, Vickers, Hawker, Bristol, English Electric, Folland etc. Next you’ll be telling us that McDonalds is a Canadian company because you have one just down the road. You live in your own ignorant little world.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
why dont you read …
why dont you read up on your history. what do you think DH stands for? i can tell you for sure that it is indeed a Canadian company. It was bought by Bombardier.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
@CrazyCanuck129 : …
@CrazyCanuck129 : Stupid, stupid little boy. If you cannot write any sense, suggest you keep your hands in your pockets and do whatever you do in there. Spare us your ill-informed ravings.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Why the negative …
Why the negative feedback for this post? jsbrake is correct. If you want to buy a new DHC8-Q400 it’s Bombardier’s website you need to visit first of all…
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
The Mosquito was …
The Mosquito was designed in the UK near High Wycombe (wood HQ in the UK). However it was produced in Canada, why because, yes you guessed it, they had lots of trees. it was also made in the UK. North of London. One of the benefits of the mosquito was that it was easy to repair.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Strange how the us …
Strange how the us airforce could”nt get enoughMossies or Spits,perhaps its because they were two years behind in combat practice,and needed the expertise so earned by the RAFand brit makers.Compare bomb loads on B17 and Lancs
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
DeHavilland …
DeHavilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920. DeHavilland Canada was formed in 1928 to build Moth aircraft for the training of Canadian airmen and continued after the war to build its own designs suited to the harsh Canadian operating environment.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Great video really …
Great video really enjoyable .. thanks for posting ..
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
its actually a …
its actually a Canadian plane.. The DH in DH-98 Mosquito stands for DeHavilland which is a Canadian company, The say its british cause the british used it.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
You mean American …
You mean American Allison engine which was fitted to the first Mustangs. Packard manufactured the Merlin under licence & they did so to very high standard.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
It depends entirely …
It depends entirely on what you mean by ‘best.’ If you mean best escort fighter, then undoubtedly the P-51 deserves that title because it could fight over Berlin, which the Spit could not do. If you mean it was the best dogfighter, you are wrong. The Spit can ot manouevre a P-51 without a drama. It can out turn the P-51. Both have a similar rate of role. The Mk XIV Spit with the awesome Griffon engine would eat a P-51. Both aircraft were superb in their given roles.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
One of my favourite …
One of my favourite planes and one of the most beautiful!!
BTW: the plane in the back is a P51A Mustang. It used the Allison Engine (also in P38 Lighting, P39 Aircobra and P40 Warhawk) hence the little intake on top of nose! The P51B onwards used the now legendry Rolls Royce Merlin, which TWO of them powers the lovely DH98
Nice video, thank you
edd
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
This was a British …
This was a British plane of WW11 (the commentery gives it away!) American efforts came no way near to compete, P40 or P51 why argue??? these planes came no where near!! proven!?! this was a Brirish produced plane with no American influence -get over it please!
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I disagree with …
I disagree with your point with regard to the inherent strength of the Mosquito airframe. It was in reality extremely robust & strong, as well as lightweight. In addition, the Mosquito was extremely formidable in air to air combat against fighters. There is ample footage of Mosquito’s blowing FW 190’s out the sky to prove this point! The dedicated bomber variant DID rely on sheer speed as protection, however, the FB variant with 4 20mm cannon & 4 .303 MG’s in the nose was a potent fighter.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
You are correct, it …
You are correct, it´s an early P-51
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
looks more like a …
looks more like a P40 more than a 51
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Yes, it is a P51
Yes, it is a P51
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Whats the fighter …
Whats the fighter at 8:36 thats behind the Mosquito, i think its an early Mustang but im not sure
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
if anyone is …
if anyone is interested there’s a pilot navigator meet at colney october 4
December 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I reckon it’s a B29.
I reckon it’s a B29.