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W4050 at The Mosquito Aircraft Museum
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Note that W4050 is currently undergoing restoration work.
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3rd April 2003
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W4050 minus its engines undergoing restoration at the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre. For a larger
(1712x1368, 457kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Port nacelle, undercarriage, firewall and one engine bearer. For a larger
(1368x1712, 442kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Starboard firewall and one engine bearer. For a larger
(1712x1368, 427kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 engine cowling panels. For a larger
(1712x1368, 421kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 engine cowling panels. For a larger
(1712x1368, 419kb) version of this image, click here. |
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long range wing-tanks. For a larger
(1712x1368, 388kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050's rear bulkead, tailcone and tailplane under restoration. For a larger
(1712x1368, 410kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Elevators waiting to be refitted to the restored tailplane. For a larger
(1712x1368, 410kb) version of this image, click here. |
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View from under the leading edge of the port wing looking towards the nose of W4050. For a larger
(1712x1368, 444kb) version of this image, click here. |
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General view of the nose area from the front port quarter. For a larger
(1712x1368, 422kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Direct nose-on view of W4050 including the leading egde radiators. For a larger
(1712x1368, 425kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Starboard firewall close-up. For a larger
(1368x1712, 402kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Looking upwards from the crew hatch towards the instrument panel. For a larger
(1712x1368, 441kb) version of this image, click here. |
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View from the crew hatch upwards/towards the front of the aircraft. For a larger
(1712x1368, 408kb) version of this image, click here. |
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View from the crew hatch looking upwards/towards the tail of the aircraft. For a larger
(1712x1368, 428kb) version of this image, click here. |
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View from the crew hatch looking directly upwards. For a larger
(1712x1368, 452kb) version of this image, click here. |
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View from the crew hatch looking upwards along the navigator's side of the cockpit. For a larger
(1712x1368, 399kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Starboard wing radiator. For a larger
(1712x1368, 403kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Rear of the starboard nacelle showing where the extended sections were attached. Apparently the original short nacelles are still underneath!. For a larger
(1712x1368, 342kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Starboard fuselage side and bomb-bay door. Does anyone know what the item on the fuselage side above the bomb-bay door is? For a larger
(1712x1368, 422kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Fuselage access/maintenance hatch, starboard fuselage side. For a larger
(1712x1368, 322kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Tail unit and rear fuselage taken from approximately half way down the starboard side of the fuselage. For a larger
(1368x1712, 407kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Fuselage rear bulkhead close-up. For a larger
(1712x1368, 379kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Rear end of the fuselage from the starboard side. For a larger
(1368x1712, 368kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Port fuselage side, view from approximately half way along the fuselage on the port side. For a larger
(1712x1368, 427kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Upper surface of long-range wing tank. Note fuel pipes at the rear of the tank. For a larger
(1712x1368, 410kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Closer view of the pipework at the rear of the long-tange wing fuel tank. For a larger
(1712x1368, 391kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Closer view of the side of the long-range wing fuel tank including the stencilled lettering 'RS648'. For a larger
(1712x1368, 351kb) version of this image, click here. |
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Uncovered long-range wing fuel tank. Note the construction methods using wooden strips. The walls of these fuel tanks are very thin indeed, but beautifully constructed! For a larger
(1368x1712, 357kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050's propeller blades in storage. For a larger
(1368x1712, 502kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050's tailcone under restoration in the main hanger. For a larger
(1712x1368, 405kb) version of this image, click here. |
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14th July 2002
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W4050 port nacelle, firewall and one engine bearer. For a larger
(1712x1368, 513kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 starboard firewall and one engine bearer. For a larger
(1712x1368, 519kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 tailwheel, rear fuselage bulkhead and associated equipment. For a larger
(1712x1368, 503kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 tailplane rear edge after the elevator has been removed. For a larger
(1712x1368, 546kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 rear bulkhead, tailwheel damper and some of the rudder/tailplane pulleys. For a larger
(1712x1368, 518kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050, further details of the rear bulkhead and equipment. For a larger
(1712x1368, 541kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050, further details of the rear bulkhead and equipment. For a larger
(1712x1368, 544kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 port firewall and engine bearer. For a larger
(1712x1368, 509kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050 starboard firewall and undercarriage. For a larger
(1712x1368, 513kb) version of this image, click here. |
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W4050, view upwards into the cockpit from the ground underneath the crew hatch. For a larger
(1712x1368, 518kb) version of this image, click here. |
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18th July 1999
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W4050, view from the hanger doorway. |
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View of W4050's rear fuselage, left side. If you look carefully it is
possible to see the original prototype markings. |
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W4050 from behind the left elevator looking forwards. |
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View from the pilot's seat of W4050 straight out along the port wing. |
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W4050 interior, navigator side switchgear. |
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W4050 cockpit interior, view directly backwards from the pilot's seat
showing canopy structure and the space behind the two seats. |
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View forward and left from the pilot's seat of W4050. You don't realise
quite how close the engines are until you see them looming close from
the pilot's seat! It must have been a noisy ride! |
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W4050 instrumentation, view from the navigator's seat. |
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View forwards from the navigator's seat showing instrumentation and
crawlway access to the bomb aiming window. |
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1997
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Prototype Mosquito W4050 front left view. |
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Prototype Mosquito W4050 rear left view. |
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Prototype Mosquito W4050 close-up of starboard engine. |
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Reg Davey, navigator, 627 Squadron, standing in front of W4050. |
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View of starboard engine from inside the cockpit of W4050. |
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View of port engine from inside the cockpit of W4050. |
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Prototype Mosquito W4050 instrument panel. |
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Prototype Mosquito W4050 instrument panel. |
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More
(detailed) images (taken April 2001)  |
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W4050 History
Built at Salisbury Hall, W4050 was dismantled and moved to Hatfield
by road on 3rd November 1940, just over a year after the Mosquito design
team moved to Salisbury hall from nearby Hatfield. The aircraft was
painted overall yellow for easy identification and carried the class
B markings E0234. After reassembly, initial engine tests were performed
on 19th of November, the first taxiing tests five days later. W4050
was flown for the first time at 3.45pm on the 25th November by Geoffrey
de Havilland Jnr., with John E. Walker as observer.
Following 35 hours of initial trials at Hatfield, the aircraft, by
now officially adopted as W4050, was delivered to Boscombe Down on 19th
February 1941 with camouflaged top surfaces and prototype markings for
official service trials. Alan Wheeler was the first test pilot at Boscombe
Down to fly W4050.
Following a ground accident on 24th February in which the tail wheel
caught in a rut fracturing the fuselage just aft of the wing trailing
edge, the decision was made by Fred Plumb, de Havilland's Chief Engineer,
to replace the fuselage with one built for W4051, the Photo Reconnaissance
prototype.
On completion of the change, W4050 was flown back to Hatfield for some
adjustments on 14th March, returning to Boscombe Down four days later
with extended engine nacelles fitted for handling trials.
On the aircraft's 100th flight on 4 May, a maximum level speed of 392
mph was achieved at 22,000 ft with an all-up weight of 16,000 lb. During
further handling tests at Boscombe Down, the fuselage was fractured
again in a heavy landing. This time the damage was repaired with an
irregular patch on the port fuselage side just behind the wing trailing
edge which is still visible today.
Service trials were completed on the prototype on 23 May 1941, to be
continued on more representative production aircraft. On return to Hatfield,
the prototype was used by de Havilland for a variety of tests in a number
of configurations including stall tests, the effects of flying with
the bomb doors open and with a mockup turret fitted immediately behind
the cockpit.
In late October 1941 W4050 was temporarily grounded for the fitting
of more powerful Merlin 61 engines, eventually flying in this form on
20th June 1942 and attaining an altitude of 40,000 ft on its second
flight. Merlin 77s were then fitted with flight trials recommencing
on 8th October, and a top speed of 439 mph was achieved in November,
the highest by any Mosquito. Development flying of the prototype reduced
during 1943, but it did spend a short period with Rolls Royce from 1st
March until 10th June.
In 1944 the prototype was grounded and allocated to de Havilland apprentice
ground training. W4050 took part in the filming of 'The Mosquito Story'
in 1945, the film made by de Havilland on the development, production
and use of the Mosquito, following which it moved back to Salisbury
Hall for use by the de Havilland Aeronautical School in 1946. W4050
appeared in the SBAC displays at Radlett in 1946 and 1947, surrounded
by a selection of the typical weapon loads.
W4050 was declared Category E and struck off charge on 21st June 1947.
W.J.S. (Bill) Baird, the Assistant Public Relations Manager at Hatfield,
had become aware of the historical significance of the prototype Mosquito
as early as 1945. When the aircraft was ordered destroyed he saved it
from being burned, having it dismantled and then moving it first to
Panshanger, then Hatfield for a short time, to the factory at Chester
and finally back to off airfield storage at Hatfield.
In the meantime, Walter J. Goldsmith, a retired Army Officer, had bought
Salisbury Hall and upon realising that it was the birthplace of the
Mosquito asked whether W4050 could go on display in the grounds. Thus
a permanent home was found back at Salisbury Hall, where it was put
on public display on 15 May 1959.
Notes: There seems to be some confusion surrounding certain
events in the life of W4050:
- The aircraft's 100th flight is noted as being on 14th April in one
source and 4th May in another.
- There seems to be confusion about the location of the aircraft between
March and May 1941.
- The maximum speed reached is noted as 437 and 439 mph.
If anyone has further information on the above and cares to supply
me with details, Please contact me.
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