 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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The last Mosquito to fly in Britain was G-ASKH, which was lost with its 2 crew at an airshow incident in Lancashire on 21st July 1996.
"The People’s Mosquito" is a registered charity who's simple vision is to see the return of the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito in the skies above Britain. http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk/the-vision/
Of the nearly 8,000 built, only another 28 Mosquitos remain either on display, in storage or under renovation around the world. Amongst these is RL249 - The People’s Mosquito.
The de Havilland Museum is also undergoing restoration of the Mosquito prototype: http://www.dehavillandmu...h98-mosquito-prototype/
Mosquito in action: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r-UUTo3wHds
While the Spitfire and Hurricane are remembered as the machines that saved Britain from Nazi invasion, the Lancaster and Halifax are lauded as the warhorses that took the fight to the Third Reich.
But there is an argument that the country’s greatest aircraft of the Second World War was none of these, but the less heralded de Havilland Mosquito - often referred to as "The Plane that Saved Britain".
This versatile, two-man machine, designed by the British aviator pioneer Geoffrey de Havilland, served with distinction as a fighter, bomber, U-boat hunter and night fighter, as well as in reconnaissance roles and as a pathfinder on large-scale bombing attacks.
It was behind some of the most stunning raids of the war – among them the precision operation to attack the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo, Norway; and another to breach the walls of a prison in Amiens to allow the escape of condemned resistance fighters.
Its greatest attribute, its speed, came from its unusual construction. To preserve metal reserves, it was made of wood, its parts crafted by carpenters and joiners in workshops turned over from furniture and cabinet-making. The components, from spruce, birch, balsa and plywood, were then put together with glue.
But at the end of the war, this unique characteristic became its biggest weakness. While metal-framed aircraft endured, most Mosquito's simply rotted away in their hangars.
One of the greatest tribute to the aircraft came from Hermann Göring himself, who said it made him “green and yellow with envy - The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses, and we have the nincompoops.”
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I remember the Mossie crash. I was at Barton air show when it happened. Very sad day for families and enthusiasts. Must be an omen of mine as I was at Woodford air show when a spitfire crashed sadly killing the pilot. I spoke to the People's Mosquito at Cosford 2 yrs ago and it was very fascinating what they are doing. I remember them saying it won't be classed as a replica as it will have an actual registration. The way they got it was by using some parts from a crashed mossie meaning it's not a full replica. Chris  On the bench 1/350 Revell Tirpitz Platinum Edition (Pontos PE and Wooden deck) plus extra Eduard PE set and extra MK1 door sets.
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Love that quote from Hermann Goering!!  
Kev 
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