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• 39,409 Faces
• 25,614 Vertices
• 22 Materials
• 114 Objects
• Detailed Cockpit
• 3DS format
• MAX format
• LWO Format
• CAR Format

Other Versions

DH Mosquito BIX

DH Mosquito BIV

DH Mosquito FBVI

De haviland Mosquito NFII

In designing and building the Mosquito the De Haviland aircraft company achieved the holy grail of military aircraft construction. A bomber which could outperform any contemporary fighter. Not only that, but an aircraft which was amenable to an endless series of adaptations and whether performing its role as a bomber, fighter, fighter-bomber, or photo-reconnaissance machine the Mosquito was supreme. Furthermore the Mosquito was created in the face of official indifference, even hostility and to the De Haviland company must go the total credit for creating the finest warplane of World War 2.

During the inter war years De Havilands had concentrated on the civil aeroplane market creating the Moth family of light aeroplanes which revolutionised private flying in the 1920's as well as the a series of light utility airliners some of which are still operating commercially today, (I'm thinking of the Dragon Rapide). In doing so De Havilands became the world leaders in wooden aeroplane construction. The origins of the Mosquito perhaps begin with the De Haviland 88 Comet. The Comet was designed specifically for the 1934 England to Australia air race and was a masterpiece of streamlining and smoothness, duly winning the race and participating in several other distance records. The Comet was an object lesson in what could be achieved with relatively low power by close attention to detail and elegance of design. At some point the concept of a light unarmed bomber who's only defence was its ability to fly higher and faster than intercepting fighters emerged. This was totally at odds with the air ministry's preference for slow lumbering heavy bombers weighed down with power operated turrets and the "speed bomber" found little favour. Besides De Havilands were supposed to be building Tiger Moths to train the vast army of heavy bomber pilots.

The Mosquito's secret and it's salvation was due to it's wooden construction. Far from being a retrograde step in an era of stressed skin all metal aircraft the Mosquito's wooden skin was technologically cutting edge consisting of a plywood-balsa sandwich which could be moulded into beautifully clean aerodynamic forms and was stronger and lighter than comparable metal construction, making no demands on strategically scarce resources. It was because the De Haviland bomber made so few demands on resources that the go ahead for the DH 98 reconnaissance-bomber was given in 1939. This was mostly due to ACM Sir Wilfred Freeman, head of research and development at the Air Ministry, one of the few supporters of the DH98.

Designed by R.E. Bishop, construction of the DH 98 began away from De Havilands main works at Hatfield within the salubrious confines of Salisbury Hall a moated Manor house well away from prying German eyes, (and the British Air Ministry). What emerged was an exceptionally clean two seat, twin engined aircraft powered by two beautifully cowled Rolls Royce Merlin's, flying for the first time on 24th November 1940 piloted by Geoffry De Haviland Jr. The prototype was soon achieving a top speed of 392 mph and a ceiling of 34,000 ft. In comparison with a Spitfire V during Air Ministry trials the Mosquito as it was now named outperformed the RAF's premier fighter, brushing it aside in terms of speed and altitude performance. The Mosquito was ordered into quantity construction.

The Mosquito Fighter

The third prototype Mosquito served as the prototype of the warplanes fighter variants, and the first production fighter variant was the NFII which incorporated a solid nose containing four 20mm Hispano cannon, four 0.303" machine guns and AI MKIV airborne interception radar. The most numerous variant of the Mosquito was the FBVI which took part in some of the most celebrated precision raids of the entire second world war. The Mosquito FBVI was optimised for low level operations and carried the devastaing armament of the fighter with the ability to carry a substantial bombload in an internal bomb bay as well as bombs, or rockets under the wings. The Mosquito FBVI was used in large numbers as a day and night fighter, night intruder, fighter bomber and light bomber.

Performance, (FBVI)

A top speed of 380 mph at 13,000 ft
Weight: 22,300 lb's fully loaded
Powerplant: Two Rolls Royce Merlins 21's of 1,460 HP each
Armament: Four 20mm Hispano cannon, four 0.303" Browning machine guns, 1000lb bombload internal, 1000lb bombload beneath the wings or eight 60lb rockets.