Bob Jens deHavilland Mosquito B.35 flew for the first time today, with test pilot Steve Hinton at the controls. According to WarbirdsNews contributor Terry Towns, Hinton arrived at Victoria Air Maintenance’s base in Victoria, British Columbia on Tuesday after flying up from Chino, California. He inspected the aircraft that afternoon, with taxi tests scheduled for today. The plan was to fly the Mosquito on Thursday, but the weather forecast wasn’t particularly promising, so they initially mooted moving the first flight moved up a day, but that eventually became impractical. On Friday, they started the engines several times, but apparently one of the starters became unserviceable, so Hinton flew home because of other commitments. Locally based TV Channel 6 (CHEK TV) has had a film crew onsite since Tuesday and filmed Mosquito VR796’s momentous event. Victoria Air Maintenance, Bob Jens and Steve Hinton are to be heartily congratulated on fulfilling this magnificent achievement! Be sure to tune in with WarbirdsNews for more details as they arrive, as this article will be updated.
At 3 p.m. on the afternoon of June 16 a newly restored de Havilland 98 MK.35, better known as the Mosquito, fired up its Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and flew for the first time in 48 years after a long-term restoration. The flight took place at Victoria International Airport in Sidney, British Columbia, flown by Steve Hinton, EAA 181203/Warbirds 12506.Restoration of the bomber was completed by Victoria Air Maintenance Ltd., and owner and Director of Maintenance Mike Ingram said the plane “flew perfectly” on Monday. He added the plane was being prepped for delivery to Vancouver and its registered owner, Robert Jens, of Richmond, British Columbia.Built after World War II, the aircraft SN VR.796 came off the de Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd. assembly line in 1947 and never saw active service. This completion and first flight makes for two airworthy “Wooden Wonders” in the world, joining Gerald “Jerry” Yagen’s example at the Military Aviation Museum, Virginia.The last of 7,781 Mossies built rolled off the production line in 1950. More than 30 different variants were constructed in Canada, Australia, and England. The sleek, wooden twin-engine bomber could carry impressive loads nearly 2,000 miles at incredible speeds (maximum exceeded 400 mph), making it one of the most effective airplanes for the Allies in World War II.
