Airbus backs The People's Mosquito build project

+VIDEO Airbus is backing The People’s Mosquito project to build a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito.

Financial backing from the aerospace giant is a significant step forward in delivering the first Mosquito to be manufactured in the UK for more than 70 years.

“Naturally, we’re excited and proud to be able to announce the link up with Airbus,” said John Lilley, managing director of The People’s Mosquito.

“The support of such a high-profile industry name provides a significant boost to our efforts to deliver an airworthy Mosquito FB.VI to the five million people who attend UK airshows every year.”

Jeremy Greaves, vice president of Corporate Affairs and Strategy at Airbus UK, said, “Airbus is a strong believer in preserving wider aviation heritage and we are proud to be supporting The People’s Mosquito in this endeavour.

“For us the Mosquito is more than a beautiful and iconic aircraft, Airbus has a direct relationship to it as more than 90 were built at our Broughton factory in Flintshire.

“That passion and dedication is reflected today in our skilled workforce whose talents are focused on building wings for the Airbus commercial aircraft fleet.”

Production of the ‘Wooden Wonder’ was transferred in 1948 to Hawarden, now Airbus’ Broughton site, where the last Mosquito ever built in the UK, an NF.Mk38 serial number VX916, rolled out of the facility in November 1950.

WW2 Mosquito aircraft blueprints found at Airbus factory in 2017.

Hawker Siddeley Aviation went on to acquire de Havilland in 1960, before it became a founding member of British Aerospace (BAe), subsequently BAE Systems which was a 20% shareholder in Airbus until 2006.

“We believe the Mosquito to be an exemplar of British aeronautical design excellence – an engineering pedigree that Airbus carries forward today,” added John Lilley.

The People’s Mosquito

Photo top: Mosquito FB.26 KA114 shortly after restoration to flight (credit: Neil Hutchinson)