You’ll soon be able to see a famous wooden WW2 bomber in person

• British made warplane debuted in 1941
• Took five years to restore the aircraft
• Centre expected to open in spring

The under-construction KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence has acquired one of the last de Havilland 98 Mosquitos to join its fleet of classic aircraft.

Known as ‘Mossie’ or ‘the Wooden Wonder,’ this WW2 fighter-bomber boasts an unusual wooden frame, according to a press release from the centre.

The British designed twin-engine, two-seat, mid-wing bomber made its debut with the Royal Air Force in 1941.

It was used extensively as an Allied night-fighter against the German Luftwaffe and quickly became one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world, clocking speeds over 640 km/hr.

Across European, Mediterranean, and Italian theatres of war, the Mosquito was versatile. It served as a bomber, fighter, night-fighter, photo reconnaissance plane, and even provided wartime cargo and passenger connections through enemy territory. A total of 7,781 aircraft were built.

In a recent media release, KF Project Supervisor, D’Arcy Barker, said it played a vital role in the Allied victory.

“The Mossie was an incredibly potent aircraft. It could pack a similar bomb load as a B17 and fight in any theatre at any time of day or night, at high or low altitude,” he said.

“It was truly a multi-role aircraft, at home in seemingly any operation. That’s what made it so special. Without it, where would we be? Thankfully, we’ll never know.”

Of the 30 Mosquitos remaining worldwide, only a handful are still deemed airworthy. It has a strong Canadian connection.

“It tells an absolutely amazing Canadian story,” Paula Quinn, Executive Director of the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence said.

“The aircraft flew around the country for years, mapping out the northernmost reaches of the landscape in a way that was never before possible.”

It took five-years to restore the plane. The restoration features all original wood, except for new bomb bay doors custom-manufactured in New Zealand.

Maintenance crews working on the rebuild were careful to not cannibalize other planes to restore VR796, with the exception being if the other craft was beyond salvaging.

The mid-size Mosquito will round out the centre’s warplane exhibit. As with the other warplanes, the Mosquito is intended to be a live display.

“The goal is to have it flying,” Quinn said. “There are only a few pilots in the world who can fly this aircraft and one of them has agreed to fly it here for us.”

The plane is currently stationed in Vancouver.

The KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence is expected to open this spring.