East Sussex College Explores Exciting Collaboration with The People’s Mosquito

East Sussex College is excited to announce a developing collaboration with The People’s Mosquito, a UK-based charity dedicated to restoring the iconic WWII De Havilland Mosquito aircraft to airworthy condition.

Mark Hitchcock, CEO of The People’s Mosquito, visited the College’s Eastbourne campus in June to meet with staff and explore partnership opportunities. The visit marked the beginning of a promising relationship centred around education, heritage, and hands-on learning for our students.

The De Havilland Mosquito - nicknamed “The Wooden Wonder” - is renowned for its unique wooden construction and its role in British aviation history. Not only was it an early example in the use of composite materials, but it allowed a whole industry sector to be involved in its production when both steel and aluminium were in short supply. Composites are a vital part of aerospace manufacturing today, used in aircraft, satellites and spacecraft.

The restoration project offers a fascinating bridge between traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge engineering, making it a perfect fit for student involvement across multiple disciplines.

Initial plans for the collaboration include:

• Content Creation: Digital Media students will work alongside the charity’s team to create short-form video content documenting the restoration journey. These projects are expected to begin in September with the College's new student cohort.

• Work Experience & Industry Placements: The Engineering and Automotive departments will explore placement opportunities that include CAD modelling based on the aircraft’s original design schematics. These may take place on campus or with the charity’s team off-site.

• Site Visits: Students from Engineering, Carpentry, Joinery, and Automotive courses will be invited to experience the restoration process up close, helping to connect their learning to real-world industry practice.
  
• Further Industry Engagement: Discussions are ongoing about how the college can support the charity through other linked projects as the restoration progresses.

Mark Hitchcock, CEO of The People’s Mosquito, said, "We are excited to be partnering with East Sussex College as our project will clearly demonstrate the production processes and build standards developed by De Havilland have synergy with the skills and problem solving mind-set students require today, playing a vital role in preparations for highly rewarding careers in modern manufacturing."

Keith Wood, Director of Ore at East Sussex College, said, “We’re thrilled to explore this partnership with The People’s Mosquito. It’s a fantastic opportunity to give our students hands-on experience with a truly unique engineering project, while celebrating British innovation and heritage.”

This collaboration offers a unique opportunity for students to contribute to a nationally significant restoration project while developing technical skills, professional experience, and an appreciation for innovation and heritage engineering.

Photo credit for header image: TPM