Airfix DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO B.XVI

As one of the best fighters of WWII, the De Havilland Mosquito operated as a multi-role fighter often referred to as "the Wooden Wonder" due to its non-conventional construction using birch and balsa plywood. This resulted in a surprisingly strong aircraft, and pilots of the aircraft affectionately nicknamed the Mosquito, "Flying Furniture". At the tail end of 1941, the initial RAF production run of the Mosquito B.IX was used for front-line deliveries starting in 1944. This aircraft was optimized for high alts and featured a pressurized cabin. The unarmed variant of the Mosquito, the B.XVI, hauled a massive 3,000-pound payload. 12 of the 402 aircraft were fitted with modifications to carry a 4,000-pound "Cookie" blockbuster bomb. During its 10-year production life, 8,000 aircraft were manufactured. The De Havilland Mosquito B.XVI achieved a stellar reputation during wartime missions. To think the Mosquito was nearly sidelined in place of the Tiger Moth. However, the De Havilland designers persevered and ensured that this impressive aircraft would take to the skies.