World War II Pilot is building a scale replica of Mosquito Bomber

GoldenRivet · 04-26-11, 01:51 PM

http://www.ocala.com/article/2011042...NEWS?p=1&tc=pg

Quote:

Russell F. Loomis Jr. needed steady hands and cool composure to pilot a Douglas A-20 Havoc fighter-bomber in risky missions over World War II-ravaged France, Belgium and Germany.

.art_main_pic { width: 250px; float: left; clear: left; } Sixty-seven years later at age 87, those steady hands are crafting a three-quarter-scale replica of another plane that helped the Allies pound Germany into submission during the war.
Loomis, a retired aeronautical engineer, can be found most days assembling a British Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquito bomber in his west Marion workshop.

AVGWarhawk · 04-26-11, 01:55 PM

I love some of the retired folks and the paths they take in retirement. I'm going to build a bomber from WW2.

"That'll keep me busy!" Got to love it!

Jimbuna · 04-26-11, 02:00 PM

87 years old!....he'd better be quick

Oberon · 04-26-11, 02:48 PM

Damn, good on him.

Beats a boat.

August · 04-26-11, 03:01 PM

Why bother making it 3/4th's, why not just go full scale?

AVGWarhawk · 04-26-11, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Why bother making it 3/4th's, why not just go full scale?

His garage is just so big. Plus, I'm guessing he wants to fly it alone or with one. No need to build full scale IMO. Not like he is carring any bombs either!

Fish In The Water · 04-26-11, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

87 years old!....he'd better be quick

Hopefully he has time to finish it and then fly off into the sunset...

MaddogK · 04-26-11, 04:59 PM

Quote:

The 27-foot-long center fuselage is built in left and right half sections. Just the right half fuselage section and the rudder and fin, or rear tail, have taken about five years to finish. Loomis estimates he has hammered about 2,000 18-gauge nails into the fuselage so far and would “welcome some help.”

Nails ??

He's gonna die if he flies this thing.

kraznyi_oktjabr · 04-26-11, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddogK

Nails ??

He's gonna die if he flies this thing.

Original Mosquito was basically wood & glue with some metal. Amount of nails used - 2000 - only to fuselage sounds quite high but I don't know what was case with original Mosquito.

What ever is the case there must be significant engineering adjustment to allow building down scale version.

papa_smurf · 04-26-11, 05:00 PM

Thats one way to spend your retirement

04-26-11, 01:55 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I love some of the retired folks and the paths they take in retirement. I'm going to build a bomber from WW2. "That'll keep me busy!" Got to love it! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

04-26-11, 02:00 PM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	87 years old!....he'd better be quick __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-26-11, 03:01 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Why bother making it 3/4th's, why not just go full scale? __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

04-26-11, 05:00 PM	#10
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Thats one way to spend your retirement __________________

04-26-11, 02:48 PM	#4
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Damn, good on him. Beats a boat.