Info on Mosquito

On 2/27/2012 3:11 PM, Mark Jardini wrote:
I used to own the one tested by Dick Johnson. What every one else
said, great ship. They are a bit heavy being polyester epoxy ships and
stoutly built, about 7+ lbs wing loading unballasted, and not the best
light air climbers. Never flew it with water. I never heard of someone
not liking the handling.

mj


Being either precise or anal, "polyester epoxy"? My understanding is Mosquitos
are epoxy resin, "all fiberglass" ships (i.e. no carbon or Kevlar/polyamide),
which is to say, their construction materials are typical of many first/2nd
generation "glass gliders."

The only polyester resin glider I was ever (vaguely) aware of was the (never
actually produced, so far as I'm aware) Torva.

Never flown a Mosquito, was wingtip grunt for one many times, ditto all prior
rigging comments. Never noticed any of its owners having to "fuss with" the
canopy mechanism. I believe (didn't check prior to posting) Mosquitos also
have the parallellogram stick, do they not? Always seemed like a good idea to
me (as compared to either an "S-curve" or sharply angled back one).

Other than the untimely death of Eugen Hanle and Glasflugel
not-long-thereafter being purchased-by/absorbed-into Schempp-Hirth, I've long
thought the innovative (and used for a while by Schempp-Hirth...and also
Slingsby on the Vega) trailing edge flap/dive brake was the only "fly in the
ointment" somewhat balking the Mosquito's more general acceptance. We glider
pilots tend to be SO conservative in our "what's acceptable in a glider"
views. :-)

Have Fun!

Bob W.

On Feb 27, 2:06*pm, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.
wrote:
Okay folks, help me out here. *How about some of you old timers weigh in
on the Mosquito. *Handling? *One man rigging? *Possible dollar range?
Let me know what you think, I don't know squat.

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

Thinking about buying one?

Neat airplane. Old airplane. Individual history is important. Get
your favorite A&P/IA involved.

T8

On Feb 27, 5:28*pm, T8 wrote:
On Feb 27, 2:06*pm, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.

wrote:
Okay folks, help me out here. *How about some of you old timers weigh in
on the Mosquito. *Handling? *One man rigging? *Possible dollar range?
Let me know what you think, I don't know squat.

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

Thinking about buying one?

Neat airplane. *Old airplane. *Individual history is important. *Get
your favorite A&P/IA involved.

T8

perfect sailplane for the OLC.....................
rrrrrrrroooooooowwwwwwwwwwwrrrrrr

Brad

On Feb 27, 6:25*pm, BobW wrote:
On 2/27/2012 3:11 PM, Mark Jardini wrote:

I used to own the one tested by Dick Johnson. What every one else
said, great ship. They are a bit heavy being polyester epoxy ships and
stoutly built, about 7+ lbs wing loading unballasted, and not the best
light air climbers. Never flew it with water. I never heard of someone
not liking the handling.

mj

Being either precise or anal, "polyester epoxy"? My understanding is Mosquitos
are epoxy resin, "all fiberglass" ships (i.e. no carbon or Kevlar/polyamide),
which is to say, their construction materials are typical of many first/2nd
generation "glass gliders."

The only polyester resin glider I was ever (vaguely) aware of was the (never
actually produced, so far as I'm aware) Torva.

Never flown a Mosquito, was wingtip grunt for one many times, ditto all prior
rigging comments. Never noticed any of its owners having to "fuss with" the
canopy mechanism. I believe (didn't check prior to posting) Mosquitos also
have the parallellogram stick, do they not? Always seemed like a good idea to
me (as compared to either an "S-curve" or sharply angled back one).

Other than the untimely death of Eugen Hanle and Glasflugel
not-long-thereafter being purchased-by/absorbed-into Schempp-Hirth, I've long
thought the innovative (and used for a while by Schempp-Hirth...and also
Slingsby on the Vega) trailing edge flap/dive brake was the only "fly in the
ointment" somewhat balking the Mosquito's more general acceptance. We glider
pilots tend to be SO conservative in our "what's acceptable in a glider"
views. :-)

Have Fun!

Bob W.

The Finish Utu used polyester resin-I think.

I flew one for 2 seasons having previously flown mainly standard class
gliders.
A lot of bang for the buck. Easy rigging especially with the tool to pull
the wings together that last half inch.
One gotcha though. I was used to opening full airbrakes once I had touched
down to keep me firmly planted. First time I tried this with the Mossy i
found myself 2 ft back up in the air. a combination of slightly too fast
touchdown and trailing edge airbrakes providing lift as well as drag in
ground effect.
I found the roll rate soggy at thermalling speeds but once established in a
thermal and with some flap it went round on rails
The gell coat seems to last better than a lot of gliders although most of
them will have been refinished at least once by now.
same performance as a discus at half the price.
Nigel