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The Mosquito has Arrived

Bomber_12th

Bomber_12th

SOH-CM-2025
Here is a webcam photo from this morning, showing that all of the Mosquito (KA114) components have arrived safely at their final destination and have been unloaded inside one of the hangars at the Military Aviation Museum/Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach. This is the aircraft that was restored by Avspecs and had been flying in New Zealand since late September. The aircraft, owned by Jerry Yagen (who operates his collection of warbirds as the "Military Aviation Museum"), was loaded onto a ship that left New Zealand almost exactly a month ago. The aircraft's public debut at the MAM will be at the big annual warbird show held at the museum in early May. As far as I know, the only real hurdle in the way of the aircraft possibly flying again in-time for this event, is how long it takes to have it certified by the FAA.

It looks like one giant, complex, kit. : )

Edit: Here's another photo taken today, courtesy of Avspecs, via The Fighter Factory/MAM: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!...23486262.49724.133710429995732&type=1&theater
 
Hey Bomber,

Any idea who will be flying it here in the States? I actually called Ray Fowler today on the phone and meant to make mention of it to him but I just plain forgot. I know 3 of our B-17 pilots fly for Jerry on a regular basis.
 
Hi Witt,

I don't know which, or both, but the pilots that have flown the aircraft thus-far (Dave Philips and Keith Skilling) in New Zealand will be the same pilots who will be initially flying it here in the US, and will be tasked with training in at least a couple of US pilots to take over that role. I don't know who these might be. Jerry has stated that eventually he hopes to get qualified to fly it himself as well.
 
Subject to the usual certification, pilot, insurance, etc. etc.... issues,
the Mosquito is now scheduled to be at the Hamilton Airshow with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum fleet

45 nm from where it was built!

http://www.hamiltonairshow.com/

"Please note that the Mosquito will be arriving early to be the subject of a special featured event at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Friday June 14th that will include discussions with several former Mosquito pilots including George Stewart who was recently honoured sharing his knowledge and experience to a new generation of Mosquito pilots in New Zealand. Details of this event will be announced closer to the Airshow. The Mosquito will be departing Hamilton on Sunday June 16th at about 10:00 am to appear at a special commitment in Washington D.C."
 
i do know one thing,as im a specialist in this field ,....its wont be seen by me anytime soon....none of the really cool planes ever come to my area...imma go curl up in the corner of my bedroom now and cry myself to sleep .....:sleep:



whattawhiner
 
It is a pity to see most historical aircraft end up somewhere in the US. Somehow it seems impossible to keep these aircraft in the place they were restored.

Huub
 
Thats been true in some cases, but in this case however, the aircraft was actually recovered by and restored for Jerry Yagen, and from start to finish it was always going to be Jerry Yagen's aircraft, based at the Military Aviation Museum/Fighter Factory in Virginia. Unfortunately there are/were a few people that thought this aircraft was being restored to be based in New Zealand and then was purchased by some American collector, and that simply isn't true.

Contrary to vintage aircraft and warbirds sometimes being purchased from other countries and brought to the U.S., it has been interesting to notice that the U.S. has actually been losing quite a number of Mustangs over the past few years to Europe - a few of the latest being "Excalibur", "Moonbeam McSwine", and "Louisiana Kid". A couple have also recently gone to South Africa ("Queen of Hearts" and "Mustang Sally").

Here's a thread going about the Mosquito now being at its home in Virginia Beach (with numerous photos of the aircraft being un-packed), and hopefully there will be more coverage as the aircraft is assembled once more.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48798&start=15
 
kinda hoped it'd at least spend a season in europe, o well, cant blame the owner for wanting to get his mits all over it. Maybe they'll fly it/crate it over one year :)
 
When it visited the Classic Flyers Museum (Tauranga NZTG) last December I was fortunate to help refuel it ...... :jump:

It was also a chance to get photos without heaps of people.

Here's me beside the beast.

Pete.
 
Just might have to go to the Hamilton airshow to see this one up close.
Usually I'm content to just sit at home and watch the odd one that wanders overhead with binoculars.
I have a buddy that does volunteer restoration work there, bet he can give me some tips on best vantage points.
 
As an update, the Mosquito is now fully assembled again, and earlier today had its engines run for the first time since being in the U.S.

Only 24 more days until Jerry Yagen's/Military Aviation Museum's big annual "Warbirds Over the Beach" air show. At this show, all of the Museum's aircraft are put on display and many of them flown. Here are some of those which will be participating (including, as can be seen, the Mosquito): http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/ww2-airshow-aircraft.html

Courtesy of Liza Eckardt, here are recent photos of the Mosquito (first six photos are the most recent): http://www.pbase.com/photozbyliza/ff_mosquito

And video from today of the engines being run: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201161111369723&l=3556675015696387383

Rather neat to know that this aircraft will be routinely flown from the Museum's grass-only airfield (as are all of the aircraft in the collection except for the Me 262).
 
We (my wife and I) toured the museum last year and got to see an F4F Wildcat start-up, taxi, and take-off from their grass strip. Very friendly folks out there and
the walking tour was good as well.
 
I love how they've been able to put a Hurricane, Spitfire and now a Mossie together; excellent.

We've been thinking about a North Carolina trip. If we do it looks like a stop in Virginia will be included.
 
Their Hurricane is one of only two that are currently flying in the U.S. (the other being on the west coast, with the Flying Heritage Collection). Their Spitfire is a combat vet that is actually painted in the same markings it had during WWII.

It would be really incredible to see the Mosquito tangling with the museum's Me 262 and/or Fw 190.
 
Bomber_12th said:
Their Hurricane is one of only two that are currently flying in the U.S. (the other being on the west coast, with the Flying Heritage Collection). Their Spitfire is a combat vet that is actually painted in the same markings it had during WWII.

It would be really incredible to see the Mosquito tangling with the museum's Me 262 and/or Fw 190.
Click to expand...

We visit the USAF Museum quite often, but to see this collection of aircraft, flyable, would make the trip well worth it. Remarkable.
 
CWOJackson said:
We visit the USAF Museum quite often, but to see this collection of aircraft, flyable, would make the trip well worth it. Remarkable.
Click to expand...

I believe the Mossie is suppose to make an appearance at the Thunder Over Michigan show this year. The date change may have been a help with that. That is not too far of a drive from southern Indiana!!

I was going to skip it this year, but I think I will go ahead and make the trip up. Last few years we have just gone up in the morning, and come back in the evening.
 
Wittpilot said:
I believe the Mossie is suppose to make an appearance at the Thunder Over Michigan show this year. The date change may have been a help with that. That is not too far of a drive from southern Indiana!!

I was going to skip it this year, but I think I will go ahead and make the trip up. Last few years we have just gone up in the morning, and come back in the evening.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's good news Witt.

We make frequent trips to northern Ohio and Thunder Over Michigan had been discussed. This provides an added incentive.
 
Thank you Witt for mentioning that! The Museum's Mosquito, Me 262, and Skyraider are all booked to be at this year's Thunder Over Michigan air show.

The Museum's Mosquito, Spitfire, Hurricane, Me 262, Fw 190, and Skyraider are also all booked to be at this year's Hamilton, Ontario air show, which will be happening in mid-June.
 
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