As the holidays have passed, and we are well into the new year, it’s a good time to provide an update on the progress with the Mosquito Engine Control Box. The ECB contains a LOT of controls, including:
2 Throttles
2 Propeller Controls
2 Rocket launch buttons (on the right throttle lever)
The Climb Boost engine controls (located on each throttle lever)
The Supercharger Gear Change Switch (will require the next Universal Hub revision)
The High Altitude Mixture Control
As you can imagine, all this functionality makes for a relatively complex design, but our design wizard has performed his magic, and we are currently printing the first production-level prototype. The first engineering prototype is the feature image of this post.
Here’s what the first production-ready print looks like, currently in process:
A few details on the photo above. Firstly, you probably noticed the prop levers and the prop lever friction disk are white, not orange. You will likely see these parts in colors other than white in photos from World War II, and other images of actual Mosquitos. According to our research, and experts who know more about the Mosquito than anyone alive today, these items were white, as they came out of the factory. In most cases, though, as they aged, and were exposed to UV from the Sun, nicotine from in cockpit smoke, and just general age, they turned an orange or yellow color. We’ve decided to make them white, to match how they appear in DCS, and to represent the actual color.
In addition, the large piece in the back, which is the port (left) side cover for the ECB, is actually two printed parts. We’ve split this item up, to allow for all parts to be printed on a standard-sized (Ender 3) home 3D printer. This design uses all standard AuthentiKit printing conventions, and standard material and parts.
We will start publishing shorter, more frequent posts going forward, and we will be making rapid progress on this exciting design. In addition, look for a “cinema quality” video of the ECB in action within DCS.
There’s more great progress to report on the AuthentiKit controls for the FB.VI Mosquito. We’ve developed the preliminary CAD files for the Engine Control Box (ECB – sometimes referred to as the Throttle Quadrant).
The Mosquito ECB represents the first AuthentiKit control for a multi-engine aircraft. This blog post will go into some level of detail on the ECB functions.
Throttles
There are two throttle levers on the ECB, for Engine 1 (port) and Engine 2 (starboard) extending out the top of the ECB.
Each throttle lever advances approximately 75% of total travel before hitting a stop.
When the stop is reached, there is a spring-loaded catch that when squeezed, will release the throttle to continue to full travel, known as “Climbing Boost”.
Merlin 25 engines give 4-12 lb./sq. in. boost at the stops and +18 lb./sq. in. when fully forward
Prop Controls
The RPM propeller control levers vary the governed pitch of the propellers between 3,000-1,800 RPM.
These levers are mounted on the side of the ECB and are topped with (generally) orange grips
Supercharger Gear Control Switch
The Supercharger Gear Control Switch (SGCS) has two positions, MOD (down) and AUTO (up)
When the SGCS is set to MOD, the superchargers will remain in low gear at all altitudes.
When this switch is set to AUTO, the electro pneumatic rams are controlled by an aneroid, and will automatically engage high gear when climbing, at approximately the following heights :
Merlin 23—8,750 ft.
Merlin 25—7.000 ft.
Some examples of which position to place the SGCS in are listed, but not limited to these:
Climbing
Climb in low gear at 2,850 rpm and +9 psi boost. When the maximum obtainable boost has fallen to +7 psi, change to AUTO. Above 18,000 ft. decrease the airspeed by 2 knots per 1,000 ft.
Approach and landing:
Before landing, check the following:
Brake pressure 200psi minimum
SGCS: MOD
Starting and warming up the engines
Place the SGCS in MOD
Cruising:
Fly with the SGCS in the MOD position, unless the recommended airspeed cannot be obtained without exceeding 2,650 r.p.m., when high gear should be engaged by switching to AUTO.
Mixture Control
S.U. carburetors are fitted and mixture is automatically controlled by the boost pressure; an economical mixture is obtained when this is less than +7 lb./sq. in.
Some models of Mosquito had a lever known as the High Altitude Mixture Control
This control is located on the rear of the ECB, and would only be used for maximum economic cruise at high altitude it sets it into auto lean.
This control may be included in the AuthentiKit ECB design; currently under review
DCS Mosquito Early Access Manual
DCS flyers can consult the DCS Mosquito Early Access Manual, available for download here, for further information:
We are making real progress on the Mosquito FB.VI control set. The first mechanical prototype of the Mossie’s elevator trim wheel assembly has been completed, and it looks SMASHING!
Here is the Elevator Trim Wheel Assembly, comprised of the wheel, the support, and a “chain guard” that surrounds the chain used in the actual Mosquito to turn the tail trim tab. See the images below.
Original Image Courtesy of AVSpecs, LTD, edited by AuthentiKit to add outline of chain guardOriginal Image Courtesy of de Havilland Aircraft Museum, UK
We have been hard at work pouring over hundreds of photos of the cockpit of the Mosquito. As some of you may know, there aren’t many examples of “the most beautiful piece of furniture to ever fly” available to be examined in the world, and the only engineering drawings that exist aren’t accessible to the public.
Fortunately, we have been able to obtain technical assistance from AVSpecs in New Zealand, the restorer of 3 of the 4 flying Mosquitoes in the world, and the de Havilland Aircraft Museum in the UK. With their periodic guidance, and our own exhaustive research, we’ve been able to replicate the elevator trim wheel assembly, using the AuthentiKit SDK as our baseline.
Our plans are to release authentic replica controls for you to print, as they are ready, later this year, or early 2022. We’re working as quickly as we can, because, like you, we can’t wait to fly the Mossie like the brave pilots of the RAF did “in the day”.
We are looking at offering the following controls, (with possibly more, when version 2.0 of the Universal Hub is available, as it will provide more inputs):
Control Stick
Wheel brakes
Pitch
Roll
.303 Machine Gun
20 Caliber Cannon
Bomb Drop (when Universal Hub 2.0 is released)
Engine Control Box
Throttle 1
Throttle 2
Prop 1
Prop 2
Located atop the Instrument Panel on the Coaming
Radiator Cowl open/closed
Rudder Trim Wheel
On the Face of the Instrument Panel (Lever Panel)
Flaps
Undercarriage (Gear)
Bomb Bay Doors (when Universal Hub 2.0 is released)
Elevator Trim Wheel Assembly
Located on a lower extension bar, at the pilot’s left hip
As you may know, we’ve just posted a new video on the Mosquito, and you can view it here:
Stay tuned to this Blog for more updates. Now that the design is well underway, we’ll be posting regular content.
AuthentiKit is excited to formally announced the commencement of our project to add flight controls for the DH98 De Havilland FB.VI Mosquito to our growing family of freeware designs.
The Mossie is one of the most beloved aircraft of all WWII combatant planes. Designed by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, it is made of mostly wood, making it exceedingly strong, and lightweight for its size.
Wood was chosen for several reasons. Firstly, de Havilland knew that metal would be an increasingly scarce resource as the war progressed. Secondly, there were literally thousands of craftspeople across the UK and other locations who possessed a high level of skill in working with wood who were mostly idle. These included cabinetmakers, luxury-auto coachbuilders, piano builders, carpenters, and even individuals working from their homes and garages. Thirdly, if a Mosquito should need structural repair or modification in the field, the material and implements required were mostly common lumber, plywood, screws, nails, glue and hand tools.
Additionally, when covered with thin layer of doped fabric, wood possesses a very slick, aerodynamically-cheating surface, devoid of any drag-inducing rivets or seams.
Affectionately called “The Wooden Wonder”, and “the most beautiful piece of flying furniture ever designed”, powered by 2 Merlin engines, the Mosquito was the fastest military aircraft in the world at the time of its introduction into the RAF’s livery of warplanes in 1941, even outpacing the Spitfire. It could carry a bomb load equivalent to a B-17, but in a much smaller package, and with a crew of only 2, versus the B-17’s complement of 10.
The Mosquito had no defensive armament. Its defense was its ability to outrun the threats it faced, and fly low, in what is called “the nap of the earth”. At the end of the war, the Mosquito possessed the lowest losses of any aircraft in the RAF Bomber Command service. In addition, data show it was almost 5 times more cost effective than another venerable warbird RAF bomber of WWII, the Lancaster (according to the AVIA 46/116 De Havilland Mosquito papers, 1939–1945).
The design and capabilities of the DH98 were so flexible that there were more than 30 versions developed during the war, and this number eventually exceeded 40, before the Mossie reached the end of her glorious service life.
Photo courtesy of AVSpecs LTD
Some of these versions include:
FB (Fighter Bomber
B (Bomber)
NF (Night Fighter)
PR (Photo Reconnaissance)
T (Trainer)
F-8 (US version of the FB.VI)
Many others
Being made of wood, though, also means the Mosquitos that survived the war, many of which were abandoned or left outside, suffered heavily from decay and distress over the years. As a result, into the 1990’s, there was only one flying Mosquito in the world. Unfortunately, that unit was lost in a fatal airshow crash in 1996.
Heading into the new century, efforts were undertaken to locate the best of the remnant Mosquito airframes, and spearheaded by well-financed backers, the first of these was identified and shipped to AVspecs in New Zealand for total restoration. AVspecs are an organization that has restored 3 of the 4 flyable Mosquitos in the world and we are delighted that they are consulting with us on the controls and operations of the Mossie as they can.
By far the most prevalent of the more than 7,700 Mosquitos manufactured at three main geographic locations (UK, Canada and Australia), and that which is being implemented by Eagle Dynamics in DCS (and has been offered for FSX, P3D, IL-2 and X-Plane) is the FB.VI. AuthentiKit has chosen to model our controls on the FB.VI.
Since the Mosquito is the first multi-engine aircraft to be considered by AuthentiKit, we have had to look at selecting the most critical controls, as the current version of the Universal Hub limits the number of inputs available.
The first thing we’ll discuss is the control column. Similar to the Spitfire, the Mosquito controls roll and pitch with an articulated, two-piece column. The lower portion pivots fore and aft, to control pitch. The upper segment pivots at a fulcrum located at the top of the lower segment, and controls roll. The FB models of the Mossie employ an s-shaped stick, angled from upper left to lower right, as viewed from above, overhang pointing towards the pilot, which places the upper section of the stick closer to the pilot than the lower portion. This orientation is intended to be held by the pilot’s right hand.
Since we are designing our own control stick, we may have the ability to diverge slightly from historical accuracy, and offer a left-handed version also. More to come on this.
You may see photos of the cockpit showing a control yoke. Yokes were used in the bomber versions of the Mosquito.
The following control assignments are tentative, and subject to change.
The stick and control column will obviously provide pitch and roll control.
On the stick are the following controls: wheel brake lever, .303 machine gun trigger, 20 caliber cannon button, and a bomb drop button. All these functions will be modeled by AuthentiKit.
Controlling the DH98’s engines is an Engine Control Box that contains two throttle levers, and two prop levers. These are included in our design.
There is no direct mixture control in the Mosquito. Mixture is controlled by supercharger boost setting.
Three trim controls are in the Mosquito cockpit: elevator trim wheel, located at the lower left part of the pilot’s seat; rudder control, positioned atop the right side of the instrument panel (IP) sunshade; and the aileron control, installed in the lower right section of the IP. At present, AuthentiKit will be including the elevator trim and the rudder trim.
3 hydraulic levers are located on the center right section of the IP, undercarriage (landing gear), flaps, and bombay doors. We are expecting to include the landing gear and flap controls in our initial release.
Additional controls will be included to open and close the radiator cowl flaps. This switch is also located on the top of the IP.
So, in summary, here is the current plan for Mosquito controls that will be designed and included in Version 1:
Wheel brakes
Pitch
Roll
.303 Machine Gun
20 Caliber Cannon
Throttle 1
Throttle 2
Prop 1
Prop 2
Flaps
Radiator Cowls
Bomb Drop
Elevator Trim
Rudder Trim
Undercarriage (Gear)
In future blog posts, we’ll go into more details on the above controls, and our progress with the development of each.
