The deHavilland Mosquito: The First Multi-Role Combat Aircraft | Military Aviation Museum

Nicknamed the Wooden Wonder, the Mosquito, built primarily out of wood, was among the fastest aircraft in the world when it was introduced in 1941, capable of reaching speeds over 400 mph while carrying up to 4,000 lbs of bombs.

The Museum’s Mosquito was the only flying example of its type in the world when it was restored in 2012. KA114 is an early FB Mk 26 built at the de Havilland Canada factory in Downsview, outside of Toronto. Built late in the war, the airplane did not see combat service, but survived as a surplus asset until it was disposed of in 1948. Following its disposal the aircraft would spend the next 30 years in a farm field near Milo, Alberta.
In 1978 the aircraft was obtained by Ed Zalesky for the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation. The remains of the aircraft entered the Military Aviation Museum collection in 2004, when it was transferred to the team at Avspecs in New Zealand for completion of the restoration. The aircraft took its first flight post-restoration on September 27, 2012, with her first flight in the United States the following April.
Almost 7,800 Mosquitos were built around the world and the aircraft filled a variety of roles from fighter-bomber, bomber, night fighter and maritime strike to photo reconnaissance. The FB Mk 26 variant was a purpose built strike aircraft that was heavily armed, with 4x 20mm Hispano cannons and 4x .303 Browning machine guns mounted in the nose.


The deHavilland Mosquito: The First Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
Guest Speaker: Ross Sharp
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