Mosquito LOL

[Birdmanwest]

I know it has great maneuverability, but fighter thats made out of wood? Who in the hell thought of that cheesy idea.lol

[simon]

I realise that this is intended to be tongue in cheek, but what are you talking about?

The Mosquito was far from the only aircraft to be made from wood, and it’s success inspired the Luftwaffe’s Ta154 “Moskito”, an attempt to duplicate the achievements of the Mosquito. Wood or fabrics were used in the construction of many aircraft including the Bf109K, Hurricane, Moskito and Wellington, He162, Bachem Natter, I believe the Vampire, and a number of Japanese designs incorporated wood as strategic light alloys became scarcer. And this list is far from comprehensive!

What’s so cheesy about it?

[Ricky]

Most Russian planes (especially those designed / built after 1941) had a large amount of wood in their structure - Russia had lots of wood, but not so much metal.

Besides, plywood as used by the Mossie was actually quite a good material. Very strong for it's weight (have you ever tried breaking up cross-grained plywood?), and of course very light in weight compared to aluminium alloys. Also, no rust, less likey to break if flexed, easy to patch holes, etc etc.

The only slight problems are fire and rot...
[:o)]

[andyo2000]

Just one more thing:

As you said yourself, it has great maneuverability. With a low weight, high speed, and the ability to turn away from enemy fighters, it had no need for armor. It was a night fighter, so it didn't worry much about AA guns. PLywood may no thave worked for B17s, but it was right for the Mosquito

[Ricky]

quote:fighter thats made out of wood? Who in the hell thought of that cheesy idea.lol
Hey Birdmanwest.
To properly answer your question... A very clever man!
Britain is quite a small country, and although it is relatively rich in mineral deposits etc, has nothing like the resource output the a German-controlled Europe was capable of. Metal was needed for many many tasks, so anything that lessened the load (wooden aeroplanes...) was a bonus.
Besides which, the Mosquito owed it's evolution to the specialised race-plane (dang- forgotten the designation, but the plane was named 'Grosvenor House') designed for speed & range. This was desinged & built in the 30's (a contemporary of the DC-3, to place it in time), so wood was a natural choice, really, for a lightweight & speedy craft. Scale it up, re-jig it a bit, bung a couple of Merlins on it, put in some guns and a bomb bay - hey presto! A fast & versatile 'plane.
:D

[Birdmanwest]

And for the final conlusion, wood is so gay.
I mean are you stupid? making a fighter out of wood?
I don't give none about all those performances.
Wooden fighter just looks so gay.

[tenmmike]

birdmanwest = major dip shit ....see ya loser

[simon]

Agreed, unless you've got something constructive to say, sod off you idiot.

[Romantic Technofreak]

Disdaining something considered inferior as "gay" shows two things:
1. A clear lack of personal maturity
2. A hint on the hiding of an own sexual deviation.

Birdmanwest, if you get a hit on your backhead by a solid wooden cudgel, your eyes move out of their pits and your last word is "Gay!"
So much about wood, dearest.:D[}:)];)

This forum is for aircraft experts or people who are just interested in the topic. You are none of that. Go ahead and keep on playing with your South Park-level mates.

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by Ricky

Most Russian planes (especially those designed / built after 1941) had a large amount of wood in their structure - Russia had lots of wood, but not so much metal.

Besides, plywood as used by the Mossie was actually quite a good material. Very strong for it's weight (have you ever tried breaking up cross-grained plywood?), and of course very light in weight compared to aluminium alloys. Also, no rust, less likey to break if flexed, easy to patch holes, etc etc.

The only slight problems are fire and rot...
[:o)]


And glue! When the Mossies came into SE Asia they had problems with the glue not working properly. But the British soon solved that.

IIRC the Ta 154 was plagued by glue problems.

[Wuzak]

The Mosquito was originally a private venture, with no official specification. At the time of its initial development there were one or two things happening that made procurement of metals for construction of prototype aircraft difficult.

[Corsarius]

What a twonk... I'M the village idiot around here thank you very much, and I won't have my title taken away from me!!!!

ahem.

'Grosvner house' was a DH88 racing plane specifically designed for the England-to-Australia Macrobertson air race. It was powered by two Gypsy engines and used the (for then) revolutionary variable pitch propellers. (you could go from coarse to fine, but then it had to be reset on the ground).

Three were entered in the race. The winners; flown by Scott and Campbell-black:
http://www.stewart50.freeserve.co.uk/main/sc/dh88.jpg
http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.hunt3/pictures/DH88.jpg
the losers; flown by Jim Mollison and Amy Johnston:
http://www.dc3airways.com/temp-1934/gacspentry.jpg
http://www.egginton.org.uk/images/Egginton%20Village/Black%20Magic.jpg

and the sort-of-forgotten; flown by Waller and Cathcart-Jones (which set a there-and-back record on the return to England). Sorry, no colour... it was green.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~tozu/dh88/Comets/Images/g-acsr2.jpg

I regard the DH-88 'comet' as being possibly one of the most beautiful aeroplanes ever built by anyone, ever.


If you hadn't noticed, the macrobertson air race is regarded by myself as the greatest air race that has ever been, from a truly 'romantic' period of time when breakthroughs seemed to happen daily, and truly beautiful planes were being created and flown across the world by gentlemen-adventurers in search of glory (oh, and riches in the case of Roscoe Turner and Jacquie Cochrine, lol).

Interesting to note that Cochrine was flying a specially modified Gee Bee racer!!!

ANYWAY..

Here in Australia we had a fairly good go at building the mossie, but had our own trouble. Australia has REALLY wet bits, and REALLY dry bits, and the adhesive had all sorts of trouble with it. (you don't want to fly when your aeroplane goes all soggy and bits fall off). We finally got it together with some local plywood and adhesive, but it certainly took some time! I'd say that it would be interesting to see how an Australian mosquito would have fared in the colder, wetter, climes of Europe. Probably not all that well!

[Kutscha]

quote:Originally posted by Wuzak


IIRC the Ta 154 was plagued by glue problems.


Only after the factory that made the glue was destroyed. It was replaced with a glue that was to acidic.

deHavilland also had a 4 engined passenger a/c, the DH91 Albatross. The experience building this a/c paided dividends with the Mossie.

[Double T]

That is one beautiful aircraft. I can't say I've ever seen pictures of such a craft. I squint my eyes and see a kinship with the Westland Whirlwind from certain angles.
Honestly now, no-one around here says things like "that plane is so gay." I do love those colorful Aussie/British-style rebukes.
If you guys ever find yourselves in Bloomington, IN, let me buy ya'll a beer... just so's I can hear you talk! (Of course you might find my midwest "Hoosier" accent interesting as well.)

FLY ON.
Tim

[Wuzak]

I wonder if they ever considered converting the DH88 into a fighter.

I guess it is a fair bit smaller than the Mossie.

[Trexx]

quote:Originally posted by Double T

...I do love those colorful Aussie/British-style rebukes.
If you guys ever find yourselves in Bloomington, IN, let me buy ya'll a beer... just so's I can hear you talk!...)

FLY ON.
Tim


What he said. But come over to the Golden State. Here in El Dorado, the Motherlode, we drink whisky.

[simon]

...and if you're ever in the Gatrden of England let me know and I'll buy you a pint, I could even buy you a Spitfire! (Don't get too excited, it's a local beer! :D)

[Trexx]

HA![8D]

[Lightning]

Hi simon,

I'll have a "Lightning"! (Make that a double.)

Regards,
Lightning

[Ricky]

Well, we do have 'White Lightning' - but you might not like it...
(Cheap Cider)

[Double T]

It wasn't that long ago the locals around here brewed their own "shine." (Reference to "moon-shine" of course.)
These days, Bloomington, IN is home to a couple micro-breweries, and I've developed quite a taste for finely crafted ale.
In the states, we like our beer COLD and our women HOT. (In no particular order.)
The invitation is genuine... and not exclusive to Aussies, Brits or Kiwi's. (I just happen to get a kick out of the way you lads converse, and curse...)

Tim