NEWSFLASH..........MOTAT Mosquito

[hairy]

I really fluked it today, I had nothing to do so I thought "why don't I go to MOTAT, I havent been there in years". So I did and when I got there I was wondering why the Hudson was outside, so I went into the restoration hangar just in time to see the Mosquito fuselage being mated to its wings for the first time in decades, so once again she is standing on her own main undercarriage legs (the tail is on jacks). ; ;D

So well done the aviation section at MOTAT.

**photos soon**

[Dave Homewood]

Excellent news. Thanks Marcus. I'm looking forward to the photos.

I hope when the extension to Motat's aircraft hall is complete that the lovely Hudson will also have its wings put on. That Hudson is very nicely restored inside, very original, and has an interesting history.

I'm not sure what the Mossie is like inside, has anyone been in it? The wing was restored at Wigram by mainly one man, a volunteer, with the RNZAF Museum. He did a lovely job. I recall seeing him working on it many times over the years while I was based there. I'm sure the RNZAF Museum's team and former members will be pleased to hear the wing and fuselage are once again together.

[hairy]

As promised..........................






THE CREW

(L-R) John Ellis, Ron Wilson, Clive Kyle, Ken Beckett (kneeling), Norm McKelvey.

[Bruce]

Isnt it beautiful! Its been a long time since an intact mossie has been seen in NZ - Good on the MOTAT team.
Odd that it has Aussie roundels and a Kiwi serial though - perhaps the red centres come later....

[Dave Homewood]

Wow. That is gorgeous. Thanks for the photos Marcus.

The chap with the beard, Clive, looks like the chap who restored the wing at Wigram. It has been over 12 years though, so I might be worng. Did he mention anything at all about it? Good to see the RNZAF Museum does get a credit.

"Its been a long time since an intact mossie has been seen in NZ "

Except at John Smith's place of course

[hairy]

Read below the hand in photo #3

[Dave Homewood]

Ah, cheers Marcus, I missed that.

Well done to all of them.

[Stormbird262]

G' Day Lad's .

She really doe's look lovely , I guess as usual she won't fly ..... Damn shame.

In answer to the white roundel.

If you check, the first five Mossie's for the RNZAF. were former RAAF example's.

In the lastest C.W. page 23, it tell's of the Mossie FB 40, A52-101, breaking the Tasman Sea record, for the fastest crossing, 18 Dec 1946.

The same aircraft later had an undercarriage collapse, while leaving Ohakea for Wigram, and it was repaired enough for flight back to Oz.

But was written off the book's(not the aircraft) by the RAAF in March 1947,As a too uneconomical exersize to continue with.

An offer of 50 pound's was made by the Commonwealth Disposals Commission, and the RAAF washed their hand of it.
Given the Serial NZ 2320, it is unknown what if any service it saw with it's new owner's.

Point is, did the first 5 get their roundel's redone straight away, as this Aircraft Might be one of them, or be painted to represent one of them .

What the story on the original airframe Lad's, Is it known .

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE ANOTHER BLOODY FLYING MOSSIE

Cheer's all, Tally Ho! Ho! Phil BAAARRR .

[Bruce]

The Trainers were all ex aussie machines, but the point is that when the Aussies had stopped using the blue / white roundel by the time the RNZAF order came postwar, (They went back to RAF style red / white / blue) and also if it was an interim phase with NZ serials and Aussie roundels, why present a museum example in this scheme - it certainly wouldnt be representative of the short but impressive RNZAF service. I would suggest that perhaps they havent painted the Red yet, although the proportions would be wrong. I dont want to sound like a picky anorak wearing "planespotter" but it is a little unexpected. Maybe when the fuse was restored over 10 years ago they were working with one of the famous black and white photos where the roundel centres dont show up on the old film emulsion?.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, this aircraft was one of the ex-RAAF two-seat trainers, formerly A52-19 and later A52-1053 after conversion to a T.43

It was brought on charge with the RNZAF on the 2nd of April 1947, and served till 1953 - however it seems it was stored all that time so saw no service (must have been an attrition airframe). It was sold to a Mr. R. Coleman at Marton who had it till donating the remains to MOTAT in June 1967.

I wonder if R. Coleman was related to Pete Coleman that saved the P51D airframes in Blenheim, one of which is now flying in the UK.