This article appeared in The Sunday Post on Sunday 3rd February 2013.
With thanks to Robert Wight and Martin Keen.
The article is Copyright The Sunday Post

As many of you will be aware, we celebrated our first birthday a few days ago.

As a bit of light end-of-year/start-of-year trivia, here are some interesting facts and figures from the first year of The People’s Mosquito. Our website had 51,000 views in 2012. That’s nearly a thousand views a week! Visitors came from 85 countries around the world – most were from the UK with the USA and Canada not far behind.

The busiest day of the year on the website was October 16th with 1,496 views – most likely as a result of our press release regarding our initial meeting with the CAA. The most popular post that day was The Vision.

On the social media front, we launched our Twitter account (@peoplesmosquito) in late January 2012 and we now have 1,366 followers! We’ve tweeted 927 times. That averages out at roughly 2.8 tweets a day! Meanwhile, on Facebook, our official Page has garnered 453 “likes” since its launch eleven months ago, and our People’s Mosquito Supporters’ Facebook Group now has 693 members! If you have not yet “liked” our page or joined the Supporters’ group, please think about taking a minute to do so – we would much appreciate it.

Our promotional video, which takes pride of place on our website’s home page and on You Tube and Vimeo, has received 5,386 views since it was published at the end of February. As the number crunchers among you may have worked out – that’s about 18 views per day!

Significantly, in July The People’s Mosquito became a charity – an important move for us which raises the credibility of the project and will help us in taking real steps towards securing the all-important funding and sponsorship we’ll need as we progress. In September we had a successful initial meeting with the CAA, where our restoration plans were well received, and afterwards were furnished with a comprehensive list of approved contractors – many of whom we have since made constructive contact with. We have built, and continue to build, some great relationships with aviation-related organisations around the world, many of whom have joined us as Affiliates. We were very pleased to announce in June that Air Chief Marshall (Retd) Sir John Allison joined us as Patron.

All in all, not a bad first year’s work we think, and a pretty good start to this venture.

Our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who has liked, followed, tweeted, posted, commented, visited, viewed, emailed or otherwise shown support for the project – we would be nowhere without you and your continued support!

We hope you will all stick with us into 2013 as we take the project to the next level.

Thank you and we wish you all the very best for the coming year.

The People’s Mosquito team

To facilitate this TPM is looking for someone with relevant experience to take the lead in the organisation and management of these fundraising and sponsor-seeking campaigns.

The role breaks down into two specific areas:

In the first instance you will be experienced in dealing with all aspects of fundraising from managing public donations through both an online web-based system and cash donations; creating and marketing a range of branded goods – which will involve setting up and managing an e-commerce system (we have IT people on board to help facilitate this); organising TPM’s participation and leveraging its presence at live events, such as airshows; and finally, coming up with your own fundraising ideas such as promoting and encouraging nationwide self-started fundraising activities among our supporters.

The second part of the role will involve approaching potential sponsors – these would include organisations of all sizes, from small local companies to global corporates – to secure ongoing sponsorship arrangements for the People’s Mosquito project.

You will be aided and supported by the TPM team members, who are willing to give you all the help you will need in driving a successful fundraising and sponsorship campaign.

Like the rest of the TPM team roles, this would be a voluntary undertaking and not a full-time paid position and we would only expect you to give as much time as you are able or feel you can give. However, we are looking for a level of commitment and an understanding that the fundraising and sponsorship process is integral to the future of The People’s Mosquito project.

We appreciate that there are several skillsets required of this job, and would be happy to split the role between two or more individuals – with one person having overall organisational control of the whole fundraising function. So if you have a skill that you think would fit one of the above roles, please get in touch by email at “recruiting AT peoplesmosquito DOT org DOT uk” to tell us about yourself and discuss how you may be able to help.

Thank you.

The People’s Mosquito Team

Issued: 31st October 2012

The Peoples’ Mosquito Ltd formed with sights set on Registered Charity status

On 17th July 2012 The Peoples’ Mosquito became an Incorporated Charity. This is technically a company Limited by Guarantee – which means it has no shareholders and issues no dividends.

The Articles of Association state that the company is set up as a charity with the sole purpose, referred to in the Articles as its Object, being the acquisition and restoration to flight of a De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito aircraft for heritage, conservation and educational purposes. The ongoing maintenance and operation of the aircraft in an airworthy condition and the display of the aircraft to the public. Further, the Articles ensure that the income and property of the charity will be applied solely towards that end. The company will apply for registered charity status once it fulfils all the necessary requirements.

John Lilley, Project Lead, says “This is a hugely significant step forward for the project. Becoming a charity will strengthen the credibility of the project and enable us to take real steps towards securing funding and sponsorship”.

Formed in December 2011, The People’s Mosquito has a simple vision: to restore a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to flying condition and return it to the skies. The project began life on Twitter when warbird restorer and aviation fanatic John Lilley tweeted about his longstanding idea of getting a Mosquito flying in the UK again.

The individuals behind the People’s Mosquito project all have one thing in common – a passion for aircraft. They are united by a love of aviation history and a desire to see one of the Second World War’s most distinguished aircraft fly again.

##ENDS##

Notes to Editors

Artist’s visualization of restored RL249 available for publication.

Project Lead John Lilley is available for interview/comment. He is, however, currently working in China and therefore an interview would be best done via Skype or Google+. Please contact Nick Horrox who will arrange this with John if required.

Contact: Nick Horrox, The People’s Mosquito PR

Mobile: 07966 482770

Email: press@peoplesmosquito.org.uk

Website http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk

This Press Release is available in pdf format here.

Issued: 16th October 2012

Successful first meeting between the CAA and The People’s Mosquito

The People’s Mosquito is pleased to announce that a formal preliminary meeting between TPM’s John Lilley, Project Lead, & Ross Sharp, Engineering Lead and the Civil Aviation Authority took place on 10th September 2012.

The meeting at Aviation House, Gatwick, was chaired by the CAA’s Head of Aircraft Certification Department, and involved representatives from Structures, Propulsion and Materials Sciences.

John Lilley introduced the project to the meeting, giving a brief history, its raison d’etre and discussing the project’s efforts to date. Ross Sharp then presented the technical part of the presentation.

Following a wide-ranging discussion, a broad consensus was reached as to how TPM could achieve its goal of a fully-restored, flying, DH98 Mosquito.

TPM promised a comprehensive exchange of information - as and when required – so that the CAA’s Safety Regulation Group (SRG) be kept informed as to the status of the project, allowing it to fully exercise its statutory obligations.

Following the meeting, the CAA furnished The People’s Mosquito with an approved list of contractors for their consideration.

Formed in December 2011, The People’s Mosquito has a simple vision: to restore a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to flying condition and return it to the skies. The project began life on Twitter when warbird restorer and aviation fanatic John Lilley tweeted about his longstanding idea of getting a Mosquito flying in the UK again.

The individuals behind the People’s Mosquito project all have one thing in common – a passion for aircraft. They are united by a love of aviation history and a desire to see one of the Second World War’s most distinguished aircraft fly again.

##ENDS##

Notes to Editors

Artist’s visualization of restored RL249 available for publication.

Project Lead John Lilley is available for interview/comment. He is, however, currently working in China and therefore an interview would be best done via Skype or Google+. Please contact Nick Horrox who will arrange this with John if required.

Contact: Nick Horrox, The People’s Mosquito PR

Mobile: 07966 482770

Email: press@peoplesmosquito.org.uk

Website http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk

This Press Release is available in pdf format here.

Thanks,

The People’s Mosquito Team

Issued: 10th April 2012

Former BBMF Pilot Joins The People’s Mosquito Team

The People’s Mosquito is pleased to announce that former Battle of Britain Memorial Flight pilot Bill Ramsey has joined the project team.

Bill will officially be taking on a Technical Project Research and Development role, but as a former Royal Air Force and BBMF pilot his remit will no doubt broaden as the project progresses.

During his RAF career Bill has flown around 6500 hours in some 35 or so aircraft types – mainly Vulcan, Jet Provost, Tornado GR1 and Hawk but was also lucky enough to fly the Lancaster and Dakota with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 1999.  Apart from the UK he served overseas in Germany and Saudi Arabia as well as visiting more countries than he can count in various appointments.

His last flying tour was as the senior supervisor to the Red Arrows, accompanying the Team on many memorable occasions – particularly tours to Canada, the Middle and Far East.  Currently a Full Time Reservist Qualified Flying Instructor on the Grob Tutor at Cranwell, Bill was the RAF Solo Aerobatic Pilot for the Tutor in 2009-10.  Since the start of the 2011 season he has returned to Vulcan flying with the crew of XH558.

Bill’s outstanding experience and operational knowledge will be a huge asset to The People’s Mosquito project and we look forward to having the opportunity of working with him as plans move forward.

Formed in December 2011, The People’s Mosquito has a simple vision: to restore a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to flying condition and return it to the skies. The project began life on Twitter when warbird restorer and aviation fanatic John Lilley tweeted about his longstanding idea of getting a Mosquito flying in the UK again.

The individuals behind the People’s Mosquito project all have one thing in common – a passion for aircraft. They are united by a love of aviation history and a desire to see one of the Second World War’s most distinguished aircraft fly again.

##ENDS##

Notes to Editors

Artist’s visualization of restored RL249 available for publication.

Project Lead John Lilley is available for interview/comment. He is, however, currently working in China and therefore an interview would be best done via Skype or Google+. Please contact Nick Horrox who will arrange this with John if required.

Contact: Nick Horrox, The People’s Mosquito PR

Mobile: 07966 482770

Email: press@peoplesmosquito.org.uk

Website http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk

The Press Release is available in PDF format here.

Issued: 2nd April 2012

The People’s Mosquito Affiliate Programme

Today sees launch of The People’s Mosquito Affiliate Programme. The programme has been set up to build mutually beneficial relationships with interested and related parties across the world. It will act as a means of exchange of information between like-minded organisations. Affiliates will all have one thing in common – to promote aviation and aviation history and a general increase in awareness of the aircraft preservation / restoration movement.

The People’s Mosquito project will benefit from the Affiliates spreading the word and passing on news and project updates around the globe, while at the same time, we will be sharing their news, projects and other items of interest with our supporters.

Benefits to Affiliate Members will include a highly visible logo, description of and link to their organisation on The People’s Mosquito website; direct email delivery of our Press Releases, offering their members timely project updates; discount on TPM branded merchandise, such as T-shirts and caps, and the ability to gain new members and new international interest for their organisations.

There are currently twelve Affiliates from the UK, Belgium, the United States and Canada – including some important individuals from the world of aviation, aviation restoration and preservation societies, museums, historic aircraft groups, and aviation-related blogs – and this number is growing.

Formed in December 2011, The People’s Mosquito has a simple vision: to restore a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to flying condition and return it to the skies. The project began life on Twitter when warbird restorer and aviation fanatic John Lilley tweeted about his longstanding idea of getting a Mosquito flying in the UK again.

The individuals behind The People’s Mosquito project all have one thing in common – a passion for aircraft. They are united by a love of aviation history and a desire to see one of the Second World War’s most distinguished aircraft fly again.

##ENDS##

Notes to Editors

Project Lead John Lilley is available for interview/comment. He is, however, currently working in China and therefore an interview would be best done via Skype. Please contact Nick Horrox who will arrange this with John if required.

Contact: Nick Horrox, The People’s Mosquito PR

Mobile: 07966 482770

Email: press@peoplesmosquito.org.uk

Website http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk

The Press Release is available in PDF format here.

Issued: 15th March 2012

Unique Mosquito NF.36 Night-Fighter restoration confirmed

The People’s Mosquito are very pleased to announce that an airframe for the restoration project has been confirmed. The remains of Mosquito NF.36 RL249, recovered in 2006, have been donated to the group. The remains include the all-important identity, along with several other original items.

The fuselage and wings for the restoration will be manufactured from new, while other parts will be sourced from other locations or re-manufactured.

When the restoration is complete NF.36 RL249 will be the only surviving example of this type in the world. This will give the people of the UK a unique opportunity to see, in flight, one of the last Mosquitos that served with the Royal Air Force before the introduction of the night-fighter jets in the early nineteen-fifties.

RL249 was serving with No. 23 Sqn, stationed at RAF Coltishall, when it crash-landed due to engine failure after take-off on 14th February 1949. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, and the remains were subsequently buried where they remained until they were unearthed again in 2006.

The final night-fighter version used by the RAF, the Mosquito NF.36 was a post-war development of the highly-successful NF.30. The prototype NF.36 was a converted NF.30, and first flew in May, 1945. It was fitted with fuel-injected, two-stage supercharged Rolls Royce Merlin 113/114 engines, each producing 1,690 hp. This gave the NF.36 a top speed of 404 mph, with a ceiling of 36,000ft.

The primary radar fitted in the NF.36 was the US made centrimetric AI. Mk X, which was installed under a bulbous perspex nose radome. Similar radomes had, during WW2, been painted in camouflage colours, but many of those fitted to NF.36 aircraft were left unpainted (and therefore clear), to improve radar performance. This gave the aircraft a somewhat startling appearance. The armament was four, powerful 20mm Hispano cannon, each with 150 rounds.

There was an ‘equipment gap’ in the post-war RAF. The first generation jet night/all-weather fighters were not being developed as fast as had been hoped, so the NF.36 version of the Mosquito was needed in order to bridge the gap between the wartime NF.30 and the new Gloster Meteor NF. 11 and the de Havilland Vampire NF. 10 jets, which finally arrived with the squadrons in 1951 and ’52.

On completion of the restoration project, RL249 will carry it’s original colour scheme and markings of YP-E of No. 23 Sqn. and will be a testament to not only those who flew the Mosquito during WW2, but also those often unsung heroes of the early Cold War period.

Formed in December 2011, The People’s Mosquito has a simple vision: to restore a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to flying condition and return it to the skies. The project began life on Twitter when warbird restorer and aviation fanatic John Lilley tweeted about his longstanding idea of getting a Mosquito flying in the UK again.

##ENDS##

Notes to Editors

Artist’s visualization of restored RL249 available for publication.

Project Lead John Lilley is available for interview or comment. He is, however, currently working in China and therefore an interview would be best done via Skype. Please contact Nick Horrox who will arrange this with John if required.

Contact: Nick Horrox, The People’s Mosquito PR  – : +44 (0) 7966 482770

Email: press@peoplesmosquito.org.uk     Website http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk

Press release in PDF format available here