The Mosquito Aircraft Association of Australia Incorporated

ABN - 68 831  327  047

Mosquito Specifications

PR 40 (RAAF service Merlin 31)

Type: Photo Reconnaissance.

 

Dimensions

Wingspan                 54 ft 2 ins

Length                     40 ft 10ins (tail down)

                                 41 ft 5 ins (tail up)

Height                     12ft 3.5 ins (tail down)

Wheel track             16 ft 4 ins

Wing Area                454 sq ft

 

Engines

Two Packard Merlin 31 or 33

Single stage two speed supercharged V12 engines.

Coolant Ethylene Glycol/Water

Capacity                              1649 cu ins 27 litres.

Take off power                  1,300 hp at 3000 rpm +12 lbs boost

                                            1,240 hp at 11,500 ft 9 lbs

                                            1,120 hp at 18,500 ft 9 lbs

 

Gear change                                  15,000ft

Max cruise                          2650 rpm +7 lbs

Max climb                            2850 rpm +9 lbs

Engine weight                     1475lbs Merlin 31

 

Propellers

De Havilland (Hamilton Standard) three blade constant speed fully feathering.12 ft diameter

 

Fuel Capacity

100/130 Octane

           Fuselage                              2 x 25 gal

           Inner wing                           2 x 64 gal

                                                       2 x 78 gal

           Outer wing                          2 x 24 gal

                                                       2 x 34 gal

           Long Range                          126 gal

           Drop Tanks                          2 x 50 gal or

                                                       2 x 100 gal

 

           Maximum Fuel                    844 Imp gal

 

Performance

Max                                      378 mph @ 13,200 ft

           Max Cruise                          255 mph @SL

           Econ Cruise                         210 mph IAS @ 26000ft

Range                                   Max 2,900 miles at 25,000ft

 

Weights

           Empty                                   14,344 lb

           Max                                      22,258 lb

 

Armament

           None

 

Crew

Pilot and Observer (Navigator)

 

Equipment

           A52-2

           2 x F24 Cameras (Vertical) 8 in

           1 x F52 Cameras (Vertical) 20 in

 

           Others

           1 x K17 Camera (Vertical) 6 in

           2 x F24 or K17 Camera (Oblique)

Cameras

 

F24 Universal camera

           Lenses           8 in f2.9

                                 14 in f5.6 & f4.5

           Shutter         Focal plane

           Magazine       125 or 250 exposure

Format          5 in x 5 in

 

           F52 Camera

           Lenses           36 in f6.3

           Shutter         Focal plane

           Magazine       250 or 500 exposure

           Format          8.25 in x 7 in

 

K17 Camera

           Lenses           6,12 & 24 in

           Shutter         Between the lens

           Magazine       250 exposure

Format          9 in x 9 in

 

 

Construction

Spars                                             Canadian Spruce

Plywood                               Beech and Birch

Panel core material                      Balsa

 

Limited amounts of walnut were also used in sections such as the wing attachment points.

 

Number built

6 converted from FB40.

 

Note: The PR40’s were the only Australian Built Mosquitoes to see active service in WWII.