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Post by ErrolC on Nov 28, 2019 6:25:43 GMT 12
Noted on the Obituaries thread, but worthy of his own. www.facebook.com/groups/7179373655/permalink/10157881919023656Glyn Powell QSM 1934 - 2019.It is with a heavy heart and enormous sadness to announce that my dearest friend Glyn Powell passed away yesterday 26th November. Glyn passed peacefully in a rest home surrounded by his immediate family. Glyn had been unwell for some time but his sudden passing still comes as a huge shock. It was Glyn’s enormous vision, courage and determination that enabled him to build from scratch, all the necessary tooling to rebuild the wooden DH Mosquito airframe, something thought impossible by everyone except Glyn. The complex fuselage moulds alone took Glyn five years to build and they are an engineering masterpiece in their own right. As a result of Glyn’s vision, there are now three NZ restored Mosquitos flying in the USA with two more on their way. Glyn received The Queens Services Medal (QSM) for services to aeronautical heritage preservation in 2014. Sadly, Glyn never saw his initial ambition of completing and flying his own Mosquito NZ2308. However NZ2308 is earmarked for the Mosquito Pathfinders Trust in the UK, and all going to plan, it will be completed at Avspecs at Ardmore and operated by the Pathfinders Trust out of Duxford UK. A fitting legacy to Glyn and his remarkable achievements. Glyn’s enormous self belief and never give up attitude is an inspiration to us all. He must rank as one of our most remarkable New Zealanders, who against all odds, achieved the impossible in his own shed on a shoe string budget. It has been a complete and utter privilege to have known him.  |
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Post by rayo on Nov 28, 2019 7:09:27 GMT 12
Very very sad a great Servant to Aviation and What a legacy of MOsquito's he lives on in every one of them.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2019 9:32:24 GMT 12
Indeed a very sad loss to the nation and to the warbird world, and of course to his friends and family. For me, Glyn personified determination, that dogged spirit to carry on regardless to get the job done despite all the challenges and the naysayers who reckoned it was impossible. He was a great bloke, always welcoming to visitors who wished to see the amazing work he and his highly skilled team were undertaking, and always very humble about it all. He really was the ultimate "Kiwi blokes in sheds" guy in my opinion. He achieved his dream, he stunned the world, and he resurrected to life one of the most important aircraft types of WWII which has now given a new generation a true appreciation of the power and beauty of the Mosquito in the air. And then he did it two more times, and his work means the potential of at least three more to come. All New Zealanders should be rightly proud of Glyn Powell QSM. RIP Sir.
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 28, 2019 11:47:38 GMT 12
warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/glyn-powell-de-havilland-mosquito-maestro.htmlGlyn Powell – de Havilland Mosquito Maestro The vintage aviation community lost one of its true champions in recent days with the passing of the legendary Glyn Powell in New Zealand. Soft spoken and humble, Glyn was the driving force behind the resurrection of the magnificent deHavilland DH.98 Mosquito. Through his decades of dedication, he and his team were able to build accurate new moulds for forming the Mosquito’s delicate plywood fuselage – a feat once thought impossible. It was a massive, not to mention time consuming and expensive undertaking. He also amassed a staggering collection of original Mosquito components, design drawings and manufacturing knowledge. As a result, the type now boasts three flying examples that owe their existence directly to Glyn Powell’s efforts, with a further three Mosquitos currently under restoration that the man had a hand in as well ...
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Post by kiwi285 on Nov 28, 2019 16:00:31 GMT 12
Gee that has come as a great shock. To take on such a challenge as building those moulds was a mind blowing exercise and the current crop of flying Mosquito's will remain as a testament to Glyn's foresight and dedication. RIP sir.
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 29, 2019 8:11:03 GMT 12
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR GLYN POWELL.
A memorial service for Glyn will be held at Hangar 2, NZ Warbirds at Ardmore, 824 Harvard Lane, Ardmore Airfield on Tuesday 03 December 2019 at 1:00pm .
For those unable to attend locally or overseas, a link to a live stream of the service will be provided on Tuesday prior to the service and posted on our page.
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 29, 2019 8:16:32 GMT 12
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Post by ZacYates on Nov 30, 2019 16:13:35 GMT 12
The livestream is a very thoughtful gesture, kudos to those involved.
I remember watching the crash of RR299 on the news as a child and thinking that meant I’d never be able to see a Mosquito fly. Then Dad started getting me warbird magazines and I followed Glyn’s work. The day of KA114’s maiden flight was a “study day” at my journalism course which I thoroughly abused by just sitting at my workstation refreshing this very forum for news, and then whooping and fist-pumping. Then the magic of that weekend display, and at Masterton, and later glimpsing TV959 through the Avspecs hangar window before her flights.
Like with John Smith I never met Glyn. I wanted to thank him for what he’s done for all of us, not to mention future generations. Others have said it better, but I just wanted to add my own little views and share in this sad news.
Blue skies and wooden wings, Glyn. Thank you.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 3, 2019 6:55:25 GMT 12
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Post by patmurphy on Dec 31, 2019 6:53:28 GMT 12
I haven't been on for a while and so I have only just seen this sad news. Sad to say, I didn't get the opportunity to Meet Mr Powell and thank him personally for his work on resurrecting a Mosquito to the skies. Without his efforts, all that Avspecs have achieved with the Mossie, would not have happened. Rest in Peace Mr Powell and thank you for all your perseverance and hard work.  |
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 31, 2019 23:25:41 GMT 12
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Post by steveh on Jan 1, 2020 9:02:49 GMT 12
A nice tribute Zac. This is one passing that I am embarrassed to admit I missed, obviously not spending enough time here & possibly too long with head in sand over the silly season. I've long thought that Glyn's achievements in enabling these aircraft to be reborn stand alone in the world of warbird restoration. Peace to you Glyn
Steve.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 1, 2020 9:37:51 GMT 12
Great stuff Zac.
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Post by agile on Jan 4, 2020 21:18:21 GMT 12
Nice work Zac.
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Post by planecrazy on Jan 4, 2020 21:28:48 GMT 12
Nice one, excellent tribute and I like your weathered building board!
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Post by isc on Jan 5, 2020 20:48:34 GMT 12
Got a !:72 Hasegawa kit of a FB Mk.VI Mosquito to anyone who can do a good job on it, 'fraid' I"m not able to do the job now, you would be best to collect from Darfield(PM me for address). there is an Airfix 1:72 Bristol Bulldog, and and some bits for a Tamiya Willys Jeep 1:35 scale. My problem I'm a bit grounded these days, and someone should have the stuff. Someware around the place is an RNZAF 727 got that kit at Wigram, and an Airfix 1:72 Focke Wulf Fw 190D
Bucket list, see the real thing. is free to how ever collects them. isc
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Post by ZacYates on Jan 6, 2020 15:09:34 GMT 12
is free to how ever collects them. isc I'd be very keen to take the Mossie, 190D and 727 off your hands unfortunately I won't be near Darfield anytime soon and my financial situation means I'm not in a position to pay postage! I expect another forumite will take advantage of your kind offer. |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jan 6, 2020 17:35:56 GMT 12
Got a !:72 Hasegawa kit of a FB Mk.VI Mosquito to anyone who can do a good job on it, 'fraid' I"m not able to do the job now, you would be best to collect from Darfield(PM me for address). there is an Airfix 1:72 Bristol Bulldog, and and some bits for a Tamiya Willys Jeep 1:35 scale. My problem I'm a bit grounded these days, and someone should have the stuff. Someware around the place is an RNZAF 727 got that kit at Wigram, and an Airfix 1:72 Focke Wulf Fw 190D Bucket list, see the real thing. is free to how ever collects them. isc Sent you a PM sir |
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Post by agile on Jan 6, 2020 22:01:57 GMT 12
is free to how ever collects them. isc I'd be very keen to take the Mossie, 190D and 727 off your hands unfortunately I won't be near Darfield anytime soon and my financial situation means I'm not in a position to pay postage! I expect another forumite will take advantage of your kind offer. I could collect them for you when I'm back in Unzud if Johnny hasn't cut your lunch already. |
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Post by isc on Jan 6, 2020 22:44:18 GMT 12
Johnny, Zac, message received, send you my add Johnny. isc
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