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Mosquito Bomber

Damon's version:

Wingspan - 153"

Power - 2 each 85Cc 3w engines

Weight - 80 pounds

History: The all-wood Mosquito bomber was designed with war in mind. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, the Mosquito was as fast as a fighter and could carry the payload of a medium bomber. Flying high and fast, it was believed it could perform the mission without defensive armament. In a display of incredible foresight, De Havilland constructed the airplane almost entirely out of balsa and plywood in case strategic metals became scarce. The Air Ministry originally wanted nothing to do with the aircraft, and rejected it as unsuitable because of its wooden construction.

Nicknames: Mossie; Balsa Bomber; Wooden Wonder; Freeman's Folly (early nickname referring to Air Council member Sir Wilfred Freeman); Tsetse (Mk XVIII anti-shipping variant).

Specifications (FB.Mk VI):
        Engines: Two 1,620-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 V-12
        Weight: Empty 14,300 lbs., Max Takeoff 22,300 lbs.
        Wing Span: 54ft. 2in.
        Length: 40ft. 10.75in.
        Height: 15ft. 3in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 425 mph
            Ceiling: 33,000 ft.
            Range: 1,650 miles with full bomb load
        Armament:
            Four 20-mm cannon in nose
            Four 7.7-mm (0.303-inch) machine guns in nose
            2,000 pounds of bombs,.

Number Built: 7,781

Number Still Airworthy: One (Previously airworthy, but has not flown for the last few years.)

Send mail to dag@atwoodaviation.net with questions or comments about this web site.