FILE PHOTO - One of the last de Havilland Mosquitos will land in Kelowna.
Image Credit: KF Areospace
June 06, 2022 - 4:06 PM
An 80-year-old fighter-bomber that was supposed to land in Kelowna this morning on the anniversary of D-Day will remain in Vancouver, likely for the next week, due to mechanical issues.
KF Aerospace announced last week it acquired one of the last de Havilland Mosquitos for its Centre for Excellence, a state-of-the-art aviation museum set to open later this year. The Second World War-era Mosquito was set to take off from Vancouver this morning before landing in Kelowna for a celebration.
READ MORE: Second World War-era Mosquito bomber flying into Okanagan
However, mechanical issues are causing a delay in its flight, and KF Aerospace communications officer Matthew Abrey said a special mechanic has to be flown in to fix the plane and then tests will have to be conducted to ensure it’s ready to fly.
Known as Mossie or the Wooden Wonder, the fighter-bomber boasts an unusual wooden frame, with a record for hitting top speeds on decisive wartime missions.
The British designed twin-engine, two-seat, mid-wing bomber, the de Havilland Mosquito made its debut with the Royal Air Force in 1941. It was used as an Allied night-fighter against the German Luftwaffe and quickly became one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world, clocking speeds of more than 640 km/h, according to KF Aerospace.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2022