So I'll blaze right into them then. This Mosquito s/n RS700 was built in 1946 as a model B.35 and underwent a conversion to a high altitude PR.35 in 1952. In 1954, it, along with 9 other B.35's was sold to Spartan Air Services Ltd in Ottawa for $1500 each (just think!) where they were used up to the early 1960's for aerial surveys and mapping in Canada. Since then, RS700 has languished in various storage facilities and was the subject of a few failed attempts to undertake restoration - until now. One of the other 9 Mossies ended up in Victoria BC. and is the subject of the rebuild that Neil referred to above.
On Sunday, August 19, 2012, the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, Alberta held a public display and introduction to the restoration project that they will be undertaking and they unveiled a number of bits and pieces of this aircraft and pictures of these follow below and in the next series of posts. I will, where I can, provide some notes to the photos. I will apologize now for the poor quality of some of these pictures as I used my wife's pocket camera and it seems I shook the odd picture
The two Merlins. One of these had an initial inspection that revealed no internal corrosion. Good news in that the mandate is to enable the aircraft to be restored to static display but with the engines functional in the airframe.
The main wing is another matter. The upper surfaces have had the fabric removed and delamination of the plywood is evident at a number of locations. Talking to some of the guys though revealed that the initial condition of the Mossie's wing in Victoria was actually worse. It is hoped that the wing will be able to sustain the stress of active engines so a fairly extensive ultrasonic inspection for internal delaminations will be done. Yes, that's duct tape holding some of the bits together!
Here's a detail near the starboard engine mount.
Most of the leading edge ribs were not present on the wing but the few that were look to be in poor shape. More duct tape.
Another shot of the upper wing surface looking toward the port side
More to come so stay tuned.