First run of Merlin 25 engine in 50 years!

This engine (Port Engine) is out of the De Havilland Mosquito from the John Smith collection, the aircraft is being prepared for display in the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka near Blenheim in New Zealand.
The aircraft will be on static display within the museum, the engine only has 84.30 hours on it and thanks to the support and permission from the Smith family we have been able to get this engine running before installing it back in the aircraft.
Was an amazing day, well done to all involved in this magnificent project!

To help us carry on with this amazing project please consider donating to the following givealittle page.:

[chefduane]

My father sat behind a RR Merlin engine in his P51 as he escorted the B17's across the Channel and engaged 190's an 109's. The Brits sure made a damn fine engine.

[humbleguy]

I used to work with a guy that was aircrew back in the war. Sadly he is no longer with us and because he had no family when he passed i took on the incredible deed of strewing his ashes after cremation. I will admit i was nrevous but i wanted so much for him to know that he was not alone at the end. The sound of this engine would have made his day, of that i am sure, it even gave me goose bumps . Thank you for keeping history alive.

[edwardmartin]

The sound of these engines is truly remarkable... To hear a fighter in flight is absolutely unforgettable... They sound "angry" along with powerful...

[jonsmith]

Beautiful Merlin music and very interesting to see the camshafts and valves in operation, we are lucky here on the South coast of England, very often a Spitfire flies down the English channel in peace, 80 years ago they would have been fighting the Battle of Britain, right here.
God bless all those boys who never made it.
Hero's we forget

[Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

I got a job as mechanic at a regional airline in 1965. First chance I got, I stood behind an R-2800CB16 engine idling on the wing of a Convair 240 just to hear that gorgeous, loping exhaust note. The little specks of oil blown on to me were a bonus. A few months earlier, I witnessed Bob Hoover flying his Merlin-powered P-51 at an airshow at Riverside Airport in Tulsa. Some sounds resonate forever.

[garylove]

My very brave uncle flew Lancasters. In ww2 ...over 70 missions and would be overjoyed to hear this beast breathing life again. Sadly not with us but I was very pleased to have an organized a visit over the Lanc at Colindale Museum in Ldn . The curator allowed us aboard as I had pre arranged and given his RAF number etc . I was astonished how cramped they were and with 4 x these beast singing in your ears for 8 hours at a time, makes you really really appreciate the hardship and utter bravery those guys gave for all.

[GTman]

A Spitfire flew over my house in east Kent this afternoon. I felt sad. The last time we faced tyranny those planes played a key role in defending us. Now, nothing does.

[BobbyTucker]

Oh man, That sounds so good, brings back so many memories. All those decades without hearing it spark to life and now in all it's Glory. I love it! Thank you for sharing this video with all of us.

[webbtrekker]

As a kid in the 1950's and 60's I would hear these engines all summer out on Lake Washington in Seattle as the unlimited Hydroplanes tuned and tested for the racing season. I lived right above the north turn of the race course and had front row seat for the big races as hundreds of thousands of people lined the lake to watch.

[ALABAMAHEADHUNTER]

Those old engines were literally works of art .

[lausd]

At one time in our history they gave these things, brand new, to 20 year old kids, in an airframe, and taught them to get crazy with them.

[rosspiper]

Commenced my apprenticeship on building the Merlin Engines at CAC Burnie Ave Lidcome NSW in 1953.

[ZacYates]

“Awesome” doesn’t cover it. Bravo everyone involved, what an amazing achievement!

[GVBiggs]

The Merlin engine has to be the crowning achievement of all time for England.

[aircooled]

Best start up ever!
Just once I had the privilege of hearing a fast approaching spitfire that screamed over my back yard in south of Ireland, about 10/15 years ago now.
At first I thought it was a very high revving motorcycle that was coming along the road in front of my house
But as it came more close the sound was quite scary, remember I had never heard one before, I then spotted the unmistakable shape of a spitfire in the sky and was I in for a treat!
I will never forget that sound, it was like nothing else I have ever experienced!

[downwindchecklist]

Thank you for putting all the dedication, work and money into keeping these pieces of history alive!

[cmonkey]

As a teenager so many years ago, I broke in a new 0.49 engine for a model plane that I never finished. But it took me 2 days to get it to turn over, my hands wet with fuel and oil, and around 9pm I got the sucker to run! The sound was so sweet. Just like this old girl.

[jimkillen]

My friend Mate who lived in England when he was a young guy worked at a place, he told me where there was a spitfire plane . He said occasionally that a pilot would the plane out and fly it. Mate said it was amazing sound from the merlin

[julesviolin]

Absolute music to my ears.
I put this footage through big screen and huge speakers 😀

[charleswaters]

Designed from the minds of men and women before the availability of CAD/CAM systems, CNC machines or 3D Printing technology. Amazing.