Following a stunning restoration by Avspecs Ltd, Jerry Yagen's Mosquito FB26 KAI 14/ZK-MOS made its maiden post-restoration flight at Ardmore, New Zealand, on 27 September. David Phillips and Avspecs' Warren Denholm were in the cockpit. Built in 1945 by de Havilland Canada at Downsview, Toronto, for the Royal Canadian Air Force, KAI 14 had not flown since that year. It then spent the vast majority of its life in storage, including 30 years on a farm in Alberta following disposal by the RCAF in 1948. Jerry Yagen purchased the Mosquito in about 2004, and contracted Avspecs to return it to flying condition. Work done by Glyn Powell of Auckland on re-creating the wooden moulds necessary to form the fuselage has been instrumental in this project, as it is proving in other Mosquito restoration efforts. First engine runs took place on 19 September, and with all performing well the way was clear for the successful maiden flight eight days later. The FB26 thus became the first 'Mossie' to take to the air since British Aerospace's Till RR299 crashed during a display at Barton, Greater Manchester, in July 1996.
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