CNAM Mosquito nightfighter cockpit project update
The Mosquito nightfighter cockpit project team has been busy recently adding yet more parts to it to continue the project.
“Eager Beaver” (this is the aircraft that she represents MM630 of 157 Squadron at RAF Swannington coded RS-E and our crew Pilot James Benson and Navigator Lewis Brandon) is now even more special with the only known functioning “crate”.
This is the assembly that holds two of the three parts of the SCR720 Mk X radar equipment, that the navigator used to vector the pilot into a firing position on the German nightfighters.
When we say functioning, we don’t mean that the radar actually works, we mean that with no drawings and barely any pictures, the team have worked out how the “crate” could be folded into an upright position from its working position, to allow for entrance and exit through the crews side door, utilising pivot points and bungee cords.
The fighter style control column that we obtained in a swap deal from Avspec’s in New Zealand, has been refurbished and restored to pristine condition and our pilot now has the ability to look as if he is controlling the aircraft, instead of grasping thin air!
A 3D printed tail trim indicator was fitted to the pilots left side fuselage, along with a new bracket and an original cockpit light over the compass and a couple of dimmer switches fitted above this, with the necessary cables.
