On Saturday, February 1, 2025, the Planes of Fame Air Museum invites aviation enthusiasts and families to experience a special Hangar Talk and Flying Demo event, spotlighting the legendary de Havilland DH58 Mosquito.
The event schedule includes:
- 9:00 AM: Museum doors open, welcoming visitors to explore the exhibits and prepare for the day’s activities.
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Hangar Talk kicks off, featuring a series of engaging presentations on aviation history, notable figures, and intriguing topics related to the field. The specific lineup of speakers and topics will be announced closer to the event date.
- 12:15 PM: Flying Demo of the de Havilland DH58 Mosquito begins. This segment includes a brief outdoor presentation, engine start-up, and a taxi demonstration directly in front of the audience. Following the flight, attendees can participate in a Q&A session with the aircraft pilot.
Additional attractions include:
- On-site food trucks offer a variety of dining options.
- Re-enactors and Museum Guides bring aviation history to life.
- Activities and interactive exhibits for younger visitors.
- The Museum’s Gift Shop is stocked with aviation-themed apparel, toys, books, and keepsakes.
The museum will remain open until 4:00 PM, providing ample time for visitors to explore exhibits and enjoy the full experience. Regular admission applies, and members are admitted free of charge. Members can also participate in an exclusive raffle for the chance to win a flight in one of the museum’s aircraft. This event offers an exciting and educational day for the entire family at the Planes of Fame Air Museum. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the iconic DH58 Mosquito in action and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of aviation history.
This Mosquito was manufactured at the de Havilland factory in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, in early 1945 and joined the RAF with serial number PZ474. Arriving nearly at the European war’s end, it only saw service with second-line units. It was delivered to No.19 MU (Maintenance Unit), at RAF, No. 6 SLG (Satellite Landing Ground) St. Brides, Glamorgan, Wales, on April 19, 1945, eventually, the airplane was transferred to the No. 80 (French) OTU (Operational Training Unit), RAF Morpeth, Northumberland, England, May 5, 1945. On June 13, 1945, it was transferred to the No. 132 (Coastal) OTU, RAF East Fortune, Scotland until it was eventually placed into storage, on February 18, 1946. PZ474 was eventually sold to the New Zealand government, on January 23, 1948, this was part of an order for 90 Mosquitoes for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), and was among the last six Mosquitoes of this order to be transferred to New Zealand. After a thorough overhaul, it was flown to No. 1 Ferry Unit at Pershore, Worcestershire. In April 1948 PZ474 was flown to New Zealand and, upon arrival at RNZAF Base Ohakea, it was given a new serial number, NZ2384.
The aircraft during its tenure with the RNZAF served with 75 Squadron until it was eventually ferried to Taieri Aerodrome, near Dunedin, for final storage.
October 16, 1952, the airplane was inspected by Arthur Kaplan and Bob Bean, American representatives of Aircraft Sales, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, along with five other Mosquitoes for purchase from the Government Stores Board by Aircraft Supplies (NZ) of Palmerston North, New Zealand. PZ474 was sold as surplus to Aircraft Supplies (NZ), on July 17, 1953.
The airplane was finally transferred to the United States in 1955, where it went through a series of owners and was in increasingly deteriorating, dismantled condition until it was purchased by Rod Lewis’ for Lewis Air Legends, San Antonio, Texas, in 2014. This Mosquito was shipped to Avspecs Limited, Ardmore, New Zealand, for restoration. On January 13, 2019, the first post-restoration flight occurred with Steve Hinton, Sr. at the controls.
![DH Mosquito T.43 NZ2308/ZK-PWL about to start its two Rolls-Royce Merlins for the first time in nearly 70 years. [Screenshot from Avspecs Ltd video on Facebook]](https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/Ex-RNZAF-de-Havilland-DH98-Mosquito-NZ2308-Firs-Engine-Runs-in-New-Zealand-150x150.png "Ex-RNZAF de Havilland Mosquito NZ2308 First Engine Runs in New Zealand 11")
