DH Mosquito RS712 - Departure from Strathallan Scotland 1984

[uphallster]

Great to find this video, I was at the auction in '81 with a friend when it and other great aircraft were sold. The mossie went for as I recall £440,000, a snip at twice that!. The auctioneer departed the event in his private Spitfire doing a long run down the grass strip then up straight into a victory roll. We were goggle eyed, great day, great sights, great sounds! Hope it's being well looked after.

[Apexpresident]

I saw this Mossie in 1979 on a trip to Strathallan. The only other people at the musuem were a couple from the US, he was a Colonel in the Confederate Airforce. I suppose being where it was meant that it could not run forever with no funds. Sad to see the collection dispersed

[Joeaviation1712]

Is their a mosquito in the world still flying today?

[Hengist2602]

I got to sit in this one when it came up to the ex RAF Banff to open the FLying Club there. Some wonderful low-level passes along the old runway. How I wish someone would get one of these birds in the air again!

[Basicallybenign]

Analogue video shot in the days before the analogue camcorder became available.

[garrington120]

Why the hell do we not keep a Mossie in the UK , next to the Spit and Hurri its got to be the most advanced aeroplane of WW2

[ChazsmateIII]

What do you call the trolls who thumbed this down?

The targets.

[TheFunkadelicFan]

Best plane of the war!

[baldylocks6]

Engin start, take off, and fly bye make the hairs on m yneck stand on end!

[coops206]

@afvnut75 RS712 is now owned by Kermit Weeks and is in storage at his Fantasy of Flight Museum in Florida

[zx7gp]

Bodies and wings made here in Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada.

[afvnut75]

does anyone one know what happened to this aircraft after it reached the us ?

[dondude69]

I just love that sound!!!

[vanepico]

Yeah originally it was designed in secret in a hanger in south mimms in hatfield, due to all the possible work was meant to be spent on manufacturing predesigned aircraft for the war effort, but when the air ministry saw how impressive the prototype was they order thousands! It was also bought by new zealand and canada and many other places :) And it is pretty awesome that it was made in balsa wood and ply wood, so effectively a massive model plane :)

[silver21662]

in reply to poolrooster, the 'mozzie' wasnt unsung at all. it had better accuracy at bombing th V1 launch sites, for fewer losses, aircrews knew they stood a better chance of getting home in a mozzie. even Hermann Göring was impressed. the only people who were lukewarm initially about it were the Air Ministry, but after seeing the prototype upward roll on 1 engine, and some 30mph faster than a spitfire at boscombe down, the saw Geoffrey De Havilland was right. unsung? NOT AT ALL!!!

[ThatMiserableCat]

What a beautiful looking (and sounding) bird !

[poolrooster]

The Mosquito was one of the unsung heroes of the war IMHO. It was one bad hombre

[wtwtqtqt]

One of the best mossie videos I have seen, and the sound of those engines...WOW!! Oh and guys? I don't know you but when you have your planes can I fly in one of 'em? Pleeease?

[GKandPebbles]

When I win an obscene amount of money on the lottery I am going to have a fleet of these built. What a plane.

[chazsmateII]

I'll chip with in my winnings.

[wlh1us]

@chazsmateII ill give one of my extra legs ( prostheses )

[vanepico]

@GKandPebbles Me too!!! Maybe a few spitfires as well!

[lostboysonbikes]

the ultimate sports car with wings, just a work of art and then theres the sound

[timj41]

there is a Mossie being rebuilt as a flyer in New Zealand right now

[timj41]

she really wants to pull to the right on the ground by the look of the rudder

[chazsmateII]

Just too beautiful to be a weapon of war.

[r1wantone]

Sounds fantastic

[STARRPORR]

That sound! make your hair stand on end//

[vwcorrado1]

He is priming the engines with a hand pump

[Gasthauz]

What is he doing under the engine during start-up? Part of a normal start procedure, double check of something...?

[Gasthauz]

What is he doing under the engines during start-up? Part of normal start procedure or double check or...?

[damianovet]

what a sound that motor!!!!

[snetterton88]

That's a very cool aircraft,good footage thanks for posting.

[darksamurai2005]

At 6:13, Please tell that was just water or condensation and not gas. It was leaking something on the right wing next to the outside of the engine, can anybody confirm?

[maidmoira]

wasnt the skeete a rolls royceengine

[Gruntol5]

"wasnt the skeete a rolls royceengine"

What on earth ........... ?

[hundanth]

I'm guessing by "Skeete: he means Mosquito and he's asking if it had a Merlin? lol

[Gruntol5]

Yes, I'm sure you're right. Can't bear incoherent comments - better to keep your hands in your pockets.

[123JDB789]

This a/c was purchased by Kermit Weeks of the Weeks Air Museum in Florida.... I met Kermit for a short converstion - I just love that aircraft! If this is the a/c I think it is, it stopped in at Hamilton and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

It participated in the 50th Anniversary of the "Battle of Britain Air Show" in 1990.

I heard that after a "HARD LANDING" it was grounded. The last I heard of it (and saw it) in pictures, it is now sitting in the USAF Museum wherever that is....

[123JDB789]

If this a/c was any sexier, it would be wearing a bra!

[123JDB789]

Oh yes, ....and it is featured in a video, "Mosquito Airboune" as it arrives in Hamilton, Ontario, after a fresh coat of paint.

Anyone know the difference between a Mk 35 and a Mk IV? I can imagine the mark of Merlin engine, (later vs earlier)

Also a STAR!!! featured in the movies, 633 / and Mosquito Squadron.

[AMCKenA]

Plane is on display at EAA Museum at Oshkosh.

[123JDB789]

Thanks for the update.... have they bothered to work on her or is she permanently static? I can imagine that after the hard landing it took, she never took to the air again.

[AMCKenA]

I saw it there in 2002. AFAIK nothing has been done.

[Dave839]

Great vid! What a beautiful example of the Mosquito.

[Hanglands]

Wow!

I cant believe I havent come accross this great video before.

Nice one 5* from me. What I wouldnt do to see a flying Mossie in the UK today!

So is RS712 just on static display now?

Thanks for posting.

[trilingual]

what are they doing under the port engine at around 5:20?

[2206411411]

Looks like they're using a pump. The engine doesn't fully get going until they've finished and it looks like the two are directly connected. Fixing the oil pressure at running temperature, perhaps? The crossing was a long flight. I'll know better if/when the Mosquito flight manual I've bought ever arrives here. (Then all I need is a Mosquito...)

[bigchiefmingingbolok]

does anyone know if there are any flying mozzies in the world, or if any are being restored to flying condition,

[Auggie56]

There are three being fabricated in New Zealand. Google "Mosquito Restorations"

[TBM3EAvenger]

You're correct sir they will be deemed new builds just like the Me 262' s that are being built

[spercepolnes21]

All new wood - all original fittings and engines, from the appropriate hulks etc. Not quite like the 262's, which have more modern engines.

They'll be more original than some Spitfire and Hurricane restorations!

[dazxy2001]

Excellent, love the wing salute at the end of the vid

[intensetazer]

give it back kermit!

[falconlem]

Pretty amazing. I don't believe the USAF air force museum has one of these. They do have the only P-61 in existence I believe though.

[Auggie56]

Yes there is one P61 in Dayton. But there are two being restored to fight status in the US. One by the "Mid Atlantic Air Museum."

[TBM3EAvenger]

Sorry but was does a P-61 Black widow have to do with the Mossie and as for your statement about 2 P-61's being retored to flight status there will only be the one at MAAM as tthe others have too much corrosion I'm a member of MAAM and have been following the black Widow closely

[nuclear944]

That'll be arguably the most miraculous first flight after restoration in warbird history! The Black Widow is my favorite classic aircraft.

[cparto]

Brought tears to my eyes, what a amazing plane the mozzie was, wish we could have one again on the uk airshow circuit.

[Auggie56]

I saw a fuselage that was being recreated, at an air show two years ago in Michigan. Three are being built in New Zealand.

[blindpugh12]

This was a sad day not only for Scotland, but the whole of the UK. I hope those who purchased it have looked after her. I remember sheing her at the museum earlier that year and wishing something could keep her there.

[guitardode]

rare footage of a now rare aircraft wish it had stayed in scotland!!!

[Cumming2]

Fantastic! What memories this brings back as I was lucky enough to see her fly at Strathallan.

[Irvine5312x6ma]

Does this aircraft still survive? Does anyone know?

[mightymac63]

the last flyable Mossie crashed back in 96 I believe..but I read off here that one is being built from scratch in New Zeland..

[JackFlemingFan]

Beautiful airplane!!

[spitzbang]

Beautiful. Music. Grace. Power. Saviour. Merlins. Say no more.

[schmuck432]

thing of beauty, sound and sight.

more ingenuity from DH and the brits (no I'M not one) we have an operational Lanc in Hamilton Ont. I've seen it fly and heard it, yes four Merlins, the only thing to top a Mossie.

[jrgogol]

Wow, that's amazing, thank you SO much for saving that for us! john

[oldtilter]

Too bad there's not one crated up somewhere..waiting to be discovered.

[603mac]

Nice piece of footage. I recall seeing this Mossie at Strathallan in the early eghties but was'nt lucky enough to see her fly,or better still hear her!!  If I recall there was also a Hurricane & a Lanc there too.

[merlintwice]

The SR71 of its day, and without question the most beautiful piston driven aircraft ever built. From any perspective,she,s a beauty.

[BikerRussell]

Really? she looks kinda fat from the front.

[flewpastjupiter]

Beautiful sound, those merlins are music to my ears.

Thanks for posting the vid.

[mikyfin]

right just to let you no that in america you do not need a certificate of air worthiness for war planes,here we do thats why they get grounded like bf109 black six fully restored and grounded by the m o d.then people wounder why america buy them all.black six is at hendon where it will fly no more{no certificate} duxford sold it just after it crashed it was rebuilt to full flying condition then the m o d did what this country is good at and buggered it all up.

[eoslensman]

I've read the book.The amount of work that went into restoring it was truly amazing.Then they let some RAF twat fly it who planted it nose first into the ground.He didn't realise you let the tail wheel touch the ground and then throttle back to let the main gear touch down.He was trying to get the main gear down first and overdid the stick..Sadly the stupid git survived.Anyone remotely interested in WW2 aircraft should buy the book even if they don't favour the Messerschmitt.

[jamieduff1981]

Firstly, aircraft flown in the USA need certification just the same as they need certification here. The procedures are different and the USA has an experimental class which some warbirds are operated under, but they are still certified. Black 6 could be flown here but it was decided to keep it original.

[jamieduff1981]

Secondly - Eoslensman - you started talking crap the moment you started. Do you know the RAF "twat"? Can you comment on his professionalism from first hand knowledge? Additionally, your information about the cause of his accident is completely wrong. He was force landing from what he thought was an engine failure.

[eoslensman]

Ok, you were there then? My friend was. He was the one who recommended the book as he was present at some of the original rebuild. You can see (and hear) from the video footage he shot that the engine wasn't failing at all.

[eoslensman]

Part 2 (to jamieduff)

What I'm saying is that he wasn't familiar with the aircraft and thought that every WW2 monoplane is flown the same way. I stand by the term twat as he cost the historic aircraft community a very rare opportunity to witness a fully restored to original (even down to the prop profiling) spec Me109 being flown.

So when you say I'm tallking crap, I believe the opposite is true.

[TropicalPineapple94]

Bit of a prick arent you. Suppose you could have done better. Hope cancer is eating away at you as we speak.

[bunjit1]

Tropical,

get a grip guy. What a terrible thing to say. I suggest you take one less arsehole tablet per day.

[TropicalPineapple94]

By The Way That Was my dad im only 13 if u want to talk to him please talk on his account i think its stubbostubbs thankyouu its just becaus e i have been getting some random mail from loads of people thankyou .

[pete2778]

The pilot of Black 6 set the radiator incorrectly, he thought the vapour trail from the boiling coolant was smoke, he panicked, came in too fast and bounced the aircraft off the end of the runway & over a motorway before flipping it onto its back in a neighbouring field. The aircraft is currently airworthy but as one of the last original Bf109's the MOD aren't prepared to risk flying it again. The pilot responsible for the crash made several bad decisions & showed poor airmanship. Case closed.

[oldtilter]

A Mossie..One of the greatest war planes of all time!!

[Hugell]

Is there any Mosquitos in flying condition today?

[60039]

Afraid not, the last one which was operational, crashed in an Air show approx; 12 years ago.

[foxhound31]

Wonderful video. The noise of those merlins is simply superb.

[MarsFKA]

What's better than the sound of one Merlin? Two Merlins, of course. The most beautiful sounding engines I've ever heard.

[KevinMeeds]

A moving and sad sight....

[baldyoldfart]

Four Merlins, aka, Lancaster

[katieooooo]

look up avspecs aviation on web, they building all new mossie for USA , we need someone here in Uk to order one to replace rs299, otherwise it will be years til you see one in our skies again!!

[th3b0untyhunter]

actually avspecs are restoring an original mosquito (for nz) and have the ability to make new fuselage for other mosquito restoration projects (not whole new planes tho)

prob the closest to flying condition is still the example in this very video clip

[KenboD67]

I mean sad. I think it's very short sighted to allow such aircraft to be sold abroad. If anywhere, it should have gone to the museum at East Fortune IMHO.

[KenboD67]

I visited the museum and have a pohoto of the Mossie. I was sas when it left.

[LANCASTERB1]

a mosquito must be restored and flown again

[tz138]

Robert Gens is restoring the Mossie that was parked next to a motel in Mexico City. (this may have been the one that Duane Egli flew back to Texas from London, after the filming of "The Battle of Brittain", he flew the camera plane. Mr Egli also flew an Avro Anson back) He is the current owner of Spitfire TZ138, an FR Mk XIVe. He is the Million Aire franchise holder in Vancouver, BC. Canada.

[muppet9]

Ditto the above

[Vitesse1971]

I agree with travisf82 - aircraft such as the Mosquito are a part of National Heritage, and should not be allowed to be sold overseas. What a magnificent plane, and oh boy, those RR Merlins sound fantastic!!

[sanddy729]

great vid my favourite ww2 aircraft!

[BSAA1947]

Absolutely fantastic and unique film! Lets have the Mossie back this side of the Atlantic and fly it again.

[travisf82]

I think there should be some sort of law preventing our national heritege being sold to overseas buyers especially when there are no examples in this country.

[tz138]

I feel the same way about White Lightnin' (P-38L Lightning N25Y)... Purchased by the Red Bull drink people, and taken to Austria.

[Lowflier66]

Like your Lysander footage this is absolutely outstanding!! I had a lump in my throat watching the last minute or so as it flew around prior to departing for Florida.

[CityWok203]

Give it back Kermit!! Nice video.

[TJJohansen]

Very nice footage. Cool to see the a/c in the air!

[GoodwoodAlpha]

Bloody fantastic!