3/4-Scale de Havilland Mosquito Project to Fly Soon

December 2, 2010 —There is another effort to build and fly a de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber, this time in Luçon, France (near the Atlantic coast), where a team of retired aviators is building a 3/4-scale reproduction of the Mosquito with hopes to fly it in the next three months. The Mosquito 75 project was started by members of the RRAA (Reconstructions & Répliques Avions Anciens), whose mission is to safeguard the heritage of aviation models of historical interest through reproductions and restorations. The group also uses its activities to preserve and pass on the aviation knowledge of retired aviators and technicians.

Michel Bogaert, along with the late Christian Nicholas, conceived the project in 1988, but it wasn’t until 1995 that construction began. As the years and the construction moved forward, some members of the team died and others have joined. Today, at least seven members of the team are putting the finishing touches on the 3/4-scale reproduction that has a wingspan of 39 feet and a length of 29 feet.

So far, Bogaert says that at least 30,000 hours have been spent on the project, which left the workshop in early October 2010 in several pieces for a trip to the nearby Fontenay-Le Comte Airfield. Michel reports that the engines (Continental geared turbo-supercharged fuel-injected horizontally opposed 520C, d-rated to 300 hp) and propellers are mounted with engine runs scheduled for as early as January. Bogaert hopes the first flight will happen in the next three months.

The RRAA is a French-language site, but we have provided direct links to the relevant photos below:

Building photos

Workshop to airfield photos

View a video of the transport to the airfield

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