Chipmunk EGNW (Wickenby)

[7of9]

On Sunday 29/03/09 i was invited to have a flight in a DH Chipmunk EX RAF WD 390 Reg G-BWNK by Stewart Smith at Wickenby (EGNW) near Market Rasen Lincs.
The weather was Brilliant, wall to wall sunshine.
I was able to sit in the front seat which was a bonus as i wanted to take photo's, i was also allowed to fly the chipmunk in between taking the photo's.
We took off from Wickenby at around 11.40am & climbed to about 1500 feet, headed towards EX RAF Binbrook did a fly around the airfield so i could take photo's then headed off to the west towards Caenby Corner then turned south flew past Faldingworth then joined the circuit at Wickenby to land at 12.20pm.
What a nice plane to fly!!! I really enjoyed it & thanks to Stewart for allowing me a trip in this brilliant aircraft.

Here are some of the photo's i took of the flight & also of Mark Whitnall having his check ride & solo flight.

1
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309005.jpg

2
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309009.jpg

3
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309011.jpg

4
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309013.jpg

5
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309028.jpg

6
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309039.jpg

7
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309046.jpg

8
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309048.jpg

9
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309052.jpg

10
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309094.jpg

11
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309144.jpg

12
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309183.jpg

13
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309185.jpg

14
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309266.jpg

15
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309361.jpg


Wickenby is a nice & active airfield with very friendly club members.

Hope you like my selection.

Cheers Trev

[BEagle]

Great pictures of a lovely little aircraft on a perfect flying day - thanks!

That suction gauge is a well-engineered modification - it looks almost original!

I can almost smell the petrol, exhaust, old electrics and other things which give the Chippy its familiar, friendly aroma.....:)

[er340790]

See from an old photo that I flew WD390 as a CCF RAF cadet in the late 1970s.

Will have to check my old logbooks when I'm next in UK. Must have been taken at a Summer camp at RAF Turnhouse, Cosford, Waddington or Wyton.

Didn't expect to see it again. :ok:

[Charles Sierra]

Excellent pics :ok:,what camera took those ?

[Tmbstory]

7 of 9:

Great pictures and a great aircraft. A Chipmunk is one of the best to fly, good controls and very responsive.

Well done

Tmb

[airborne_artist]

Excellent pics :ok:,what camera took those ?

Sony A350 (http://www.sony.co.uk/product/dss-digital-slr/dslr-a350) :ok:

[Studefather]

er340790

Extract below from the movement cards of WD390 covering this period might ring a bell.

I did recently appeal for any old pictures of our a/c, sadly, no joy. If you could add any detail to the history, I would be much obliged.


1969 Oct Allocated Manchester UAS
1970 Sept Manchester UAS
1974 July NEA 5MU
1979 Aug Allocated FSS Swinderby
1980 Oct 5MU
1981 Feb FSS Swinderby

S

[421]

Fantastic Photos on a lovely day in Lincolnshire. I have only visited Wickenby once (as a driver) and it was a lovely airfield and I hope that it is picking up for movements etc. Unfortunately my old place (where I used to work) Sturgate seems to be stagnating even though it has so much to offer. Still glad that GA is getting something out of Lincoln and its surrondings, there are some lovely views certainly and I am glad to have had the pleasure to see them from the air.

[spekesoftly]

Superb photographs. Checked my log book to discover that I flew WD390 almost forty years ago. Twice in April and again in May 1969 when it was based with the Primary Flying Squadron at RAF Church Fenton. My instructor for the first two flights in April was a Flying Officer Dai H-H.

[7of9]

Charles Sierra Excellent pics ,what camera took those ?

As airborne_artist stated a sony A350 14.5 mpix camera.

Many thanks for the comments & i am glad i managed to jog some fond memories for some of you.

That was the first time i had flown in a Chipmunk & hope it wasn't my last, i have flown in many different types before although i don't have my PPL yet but that's now in the pipeline. What a joy to fly the Chipmunk & thanks to Studefather for the opportunity.

Wickenby is a nice friendly airfield with nice members there.

Museum is a good look around upstairs in the control tower too.

Regards Trev:ok::ok::ok:

[fireflybob]

Great pics and a great a/c - did my first solo in a DHC 1 in 1968 from ema - it's still my favourite light a/c to fly.

Remember my dad taking me flying in the Chipmunk when I was about ten years old and he showed me some aerobatics. He said to me "I'll show you the best stall turn in the Midlands"...and IMHO it was! Also recall climbing VMC on top with him and calling for a training fix on 121.5 sometime in the early 1960s from RAF Newton - Happy Days!

[Exaviator]

Well Trev, you certainly brought back memories for me. I split my basic wings training between the DH82 Tigermoth and the DHC-1 Chipmunk back in 1959. Two delightful aircraft to fly, particularly on a fine day when the air was smooth.

Some forty years and many flight hours later a very generous chap loaned me his Chippy being over impressed by my then current credentials. (B-747 Check Pilot for a major airline.)

Not wanting to risk his pride and joy I roped in another pilot current on type to keep an eye on me and off we went. I found that not only did I still remember the Chippy's handling characteristics but it was as much a joy to fly then as it was forty years earlier.

:ok::ok::ok:

[Studefather]

Spekesoftly,

Herewith the full 9 yards from WD390's movement cards, less time at various MUs and Marshalls, confirming AOTS RFS duties at Church Fenton in the late '60s.

Also some recent pictures of WD390 re-acquaintance with old surroundings on Private Flying Forum thread "Church Fenton 21/03/09".

1951 April Delivered 2BFTS
1953 Jan Allocated 5RFS
1955 March Allocated 22 Group Comms Flt.
1957 June 22 Group Comms Flt.
1960 March Allocated Tech College Henlow
1964 Aug Allocated RAF South Cerney
1965 March Allocated Bristol UAS
May Allocated 2 AEF
June Allocated 1 AEF
Aug Allocated ITS South Cerney
1967 Jan name chge Aircrew Officer Training School
Jan name chge RFS (Church Fenton) AOTS
1969 Oct Allocated Manchester UAS
1970 July Disposal Ac RDS/60MU
Sept Manchester UAS
1979 Aug Allocated FSS Swinderby
1981 Feb FSS Swinderby
1984 Nov Allocated 9 AEF Finningley
Dec 9 AEF Finningley
July 9 AEF Finningley
Aug 9 AEF Finningley
1992 approx Disposal Ac
1995 sold at sale RAF Newton

[ozzieausterdriver]

Wow.....what a fantastic set of pics of what has to be one of the best aircraft arounds..well except an Auster of course!!!:yuk:

Thanks for sharing the great day with us

[7of9]

Spekesoftly,

Herewith the full 9 yards from WD390's movement cards, less time at various MUs and Marshalls, confirming AOTS RFS duties at Church Fenton in the late '60s.

Also some recent pictures of WD390 re-acquaintance with old surroundings on Private Flying Forum thread "Church Fenton 21/03/09".

Link to said Church Fenton photo's;

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/367041-church-fenton-saturday-21-03-09-a.html

Trev:ok::ok::ok:

[stiknruda]

My instructor for the first two flights in April was a Flying Officer Dai H-H.


DAi is still flying - he is CFI at Perth and we had our annual chat at the DA Symposium a fortnight ago!

Stik

[alvin-sfc]

Happy days indeed.Fond memories of Sherwood Flying Club"s Chippie back in the seventies. Great photos at Wickenby.

[mabmac]

I last flew the Chipmunk in 1977 having totalled 13 hrs 30 mins solo and 51 hrs 30 mins dual. I found it a delightful aeroplane to fly and I would love to go back to it and obtain a PPL. I have recently had a couple of flights in a Tomahawk but it wasn't as involving as the Chippie.
I have seen posts about existing PPL holders doing a tailwheel conversion but does anyone know if there is anywhere that offers an ab-initio PPL on the Chipmunk?

[Them thar hills]

MM
You may find they offer that at Prestwick. Sorry no further details...
I do know my old (shared) Chipmunk lives up there. G-AORW.
tth

[Oldpilot55]

421
I am not sure on what basis you can argue that Sturgate is stagnating. The dawn patrol in early February attracted 60 visitors, last June's fly-in attracted 156 aircraft over two days and the club has some of the cheapest flying in the country. Eastern Aviation, the maintenance organisation is usually overwhelmed with work and has gone from strength to strength with its new ownership. Perhaps you should pay a visit at the next flyin at the beginning of June and experience how friendly the club is. Its not perfect but the club members put in a great deal of effort to make it a success.

['India-Mike]

Yes, ab-initio and conversions at Prestwick Flying Club using G-AORW and G-BDEU. £168 per hour/£25 instructor/£8 per landing.

Apologies for the ad:}

[BRL]

Great thread. Thanks for posting these pics, they are wonderful. :)

[Hamish 123]

Just checked my logbook - flew WD390 on 23rd May 1983 while going through Flying Selection Squadron at Swinderby, immediately after passing out of Cranwell. Only did the one trip in it, "Test 1" according to my logbook. Very vague memories of the trip, but still remember the instructor telling me I'd passed.

Looks in great condition - recall all the Chipmunks on FSS as being a bit more "lived in" at the time.

I still vividly recall my first take off in a Chipmunk. The purpose of FSS was to assess those selected for pilot training at Church Fenton or Linton, to see if they had the aptitude to go onto jets (JP 3s).

I had never flown before, so after a brief groundschool, went off for my first trip. The instructor just let me get on with the take off. It went pear shaped pretty quickly, and I was soon veering across the runway to the right, not having given it enough left rudder, heading towards a small hut I seem to recall. Just before we hit the grass, I managed to haul her off the ground.

I still don't know if the instructor was sitting in the back, as scared as me, or was calmly letting me make every handling mistake known to man during my first take off on my first flight! However, after that, I never had another problem with take offs.

Now landing the bugg*er without a ground loop . . .

[Studefather]

Hamish123

That Chipmunk memory made me smile.

I have to say though, in comparison, WD390 appears somewhat tamed in civilian life these days.
Maybe she learned a trick or two during the 40 years and 11,000 hours at the hands of ab initio, UAS and AEF students.

[fireflybob]

I do know my old (shared) Chipmunk lives up there. G-AORW.


That's the one I did my first solo in June 1968 off RW 28 at EMA - My instructor was Frank Spencer (but not the actor) at the East Midlands School of Flying.

[fireflybob]

I remember flying in a Chipmunk from Nottingham as a ppl student, and the instructor was you! It was a spin detail and we went to 6000'

No doubt you can recall the spin recovery! Halcyon days at the Sherwood Flying Club which is still going strong.

[India Four Two]

7of9,

Very nice pictures. Made me very nostalgic, but I thought Binbrook looked very sad. When I was there on a UBAS summer camp, the pan was filled with 5 Squadron's Lightning F6s, not cars.

I never flew WD390, but spent many hours in WD292, which I see is also still around.

[Justiciar]

Very nice photos. Aircraft looks on top notch condition. Just back from 50 minutes in the Felthorpe Chippy over east Norfolk with a few low (> 500' !) passes over my house on a lovely spring afternoon with wife and rug rats waving insanely in the garden. Life doesn't get much better :ok:

[whirlwind]

Just back from 50 minutes in the Felthorpe Chippy over east Norfolk Life doesn't get much better ...unless you have 4 wings. Justiciar, I followed you a bit later on (but not over your house!!) in the Hornet Moth.
There's a picture of the Felthorpe Chippy here: Gallery (http://www.felthorpe.nxserve.net/gallery.htm)

Cheers,
WW

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Here's ours at Sleap (she lives at EGGP). Been flying her for 30 years now - never found a nicer aeroplane to fly than the Chippy.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b132/GZK6NK/slsleap24oct08_1resized.jpg

And just going back to the original poster's pics..... a tad more left rudder needed in the climb here....

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/kirksandall/Wickenby290309028.jpg

;):):)

SSD

[crjlover]

Dumb question of the day: does the chipmunk a fixed or variable pitch propeller?

[whirlwind]

Fixed, mate, fixed.
WW

[Studefather]

SSD,

I'll offer transient condition, following a very low pass and just about to enter a steep banked climbing RH turn to make the return pass and being helped round the corner by a little bottom rudder...........or maybe just sloppy flying!!

BTW, you didn't spot the US turn needle!

[Justiciar]

Hi WW thought I might see you yesterday but had to get home and polish myself up for the evening. Calling the right runway when I flew was difficult to say the least. I eventually decided on 34 where upon the wind backed so returned on 23. Hopefully it was a bit calmer when you went off. Would very much like to fly loose formation at some point with the Hornet and perhaps the Moth as well :) ? Preferably with a camera ship - I need one or two good flying photos for the office wall - Mrs J not too happy at having alot on the living room wall ... can't understand why :confused:

[7of9]

Thanks for the comments.

I have now put the rest of the photo's of this flight on my site.

Flying the Chipmunk :: Fotopic.Net (http://trevor1019.fotopic.net/c1688264.html)

Thanks for looking.

Trev

[anthal1845]

Well this certainly brought back memories.

N.B. Exaviator, (anson) and I attended the same school, he some ten years before I.

I joined the Royal Navy in 1972 as a specialist in aviation on a short career commission. During my time at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth I underwent the baptism of fire that all naval aviators of that time were subjected to.

Through June and July of 1972 I was given 12 hours 35 minutes on Chipmunks operated out of Roborough, Plymouth Airport, by way of an assessment of my suitability for the role as a naval aviator.

My instructors, Lt Cdr Pugh, Sq Ldr Greenhow and Lt Cdr Legat, rip all of them, deemed me capable of continuing training and I went on to Church Fenton. Not before Lt Cdr Pugh told me that "if I had any other way of earning a living, that i should consider taking that course".

Some airframe numbers from my log book of flights from Roborough, WP856, WK608, WK517, WP759, WD374 and WK634.

Church Fenton, or Royal Naval Elementary Flight Training School as it was then, was full a flight of over 20 Chipmunks. The instructors were a mixed bag of drivers from the Navy and the Airforce. My Instructor Lt Jennings was a Buccaneer man by trade, but I flew with others that were Lightning, Jaguar, Phantom and Vulcan drivers.

Some airframe numbers from my log book of flight from CF. WD363, WP831, WG306, WK628, WD371, WP924, WG348, WZ858, WD292, WG470 and on. I don’t recall a favourite, all I can remember is the way my instructors could coax amazing antics from such an aircraft.
Only one flight stands out in my recall, first solo spinning 14th June 1973, as I entered the manoeuvre a sharp clang from the back scared me to death. I returned to Rufforth only to be told that someone had left something in that little cubby hole at the back of the cockpit. It was this clanging around that had such an effect on me. I was simply told to go and repeat the exercise.
Rufforth, near York, was used as a satellite in those days. Probably a building site by now.
From here I went on to train on helicopters at Royal naval Air Station Culdrose, flying Hiller 12E and Whirlwind Mk7, but the Chipmunk was in my blood.
In 1977 I was posted to 705 Naval Air Squadron as an Instructor flying the Gazelle. During the weekends I flew as tug pilot for the Royal Navy Gliding School / Club based at Culdrose.
The tug was designated 586, I don’t know the airframe number, but I spent many many pleasant hours going up round and down at the behest of the gliding fraternity, didn’t even stop for lunch in those days, fish and chips on ones lap whilst working was common.
During my time in the Navy I mainly flew Wessex V but in a 25 year career in helicopters I flew over 20 types in many roles, from instruction to troop transport, air sea rescue, general charter, film work, police and air ambulance. Great times.

Now retired, I would really like to have another go at the Chipmunk, any offers?

Tony H

[RNHF_PILOT]

Some airframe numbers from my log book of flights from Roborough, WP856, WK608, WK517, WP759, WD374 and WK634

Turned WK608 upside down over Somerset just yesterday. A great day for it and a real privilege to be flying the last current serving RN Chipmunk. One of the last 4 Chipmunks still flown by the military. :ok:

[thing]

A bit OT RNHF but what's the score for flying into Yeovilton to visit the museum? I have crown indemnity on the aircraft.

[RNHF_PILOT]

A bit OT RNHF but what's the score for flying into Yeovilton to visit the museum? I have crown indemnity on the aircraft.

As long as the visit is planned when the airfield is open for normal business it is not usually a problem. Just phone the Air Ops number listed in the Pooleys or the BINA and book in with them.

If it is a weekend or outside normal operating hours this won't be possible I'm afraid as only Yeovilton Flying Club and Heron Gliding Club are permitted to operate when the airfield is closed.

[sapco2]

Some great photos there and they brought back some fond memories of my first solo flight in Sherwood Flying club's Chipmunk G-BDBP. If I remember rightly the hourly rate was only £13 ph which seemed like a lot of money at the time.

[thing]

Thanks, I'll see if I can fill an a/c and have a day out then. Last time I was there it had just opened! Must have been around 1965.


the hourly rate was only £13 ph which seemed like a lot of money at the time.

My first flight was in a Rollason Condor at the princely sum of £7 an hour...:{

[piperboy84]

Quote:
My instructor for the first two flights in April was a Flying Officer Dai H-H.

DAi is still flying - he is CFI at Perth and we had our annual chat at the DA Symposium a fortnight ago!

Stik

Back in 2010 I had not flown for a few years apart from maybe an hour here or there per year in a cessna or piper, I bought my Maule taildragger and had it shipped over here, I hunted around for someone to re-teach me the basics again and how to fly the taildragger, met Dai HH and he gave me my first few hours of instruction, it was the best training i have ever had, he even give me a demo of how to land at my farm strip BEFORE I leveled it and right after i had ran over it with the grubber,

DHH is the man !!

Great pics, sorry to hijack the thread

[gpugh]

Hi Anthal 1845, just a couple of corrections father still very much with us and it was Sdn Ldr Legat he was never Navy


cheers Gordon