Coff, so your wife drags you out to work in the garden too?
I fully agree that
Chipmunk - the Poor Man's Spitfire is the definitive Chipmunk reference. However, you were
supposed to say that the best written part was the "Australian Chipmunks" chapter! I confess, at the risk of "outing" myself, that I'm the second Rod on the cover. No, I didn't choose the book's title!
Keeping a Chipmunk airworthy certainly isn't easy or cheap, but it's very rewarding too.
Regarding low time Chipmunks, I think the honours must go to VH-DHX (C1-0944). Built as a Mk.21, this one was initially G-ANAG, went to Japan as both JA3090 and JA3060, then to Honk Kong as VR-HFQ. It was badly damaged there in Typhoon "Wanda" in 1962, was used as a HAECO apprentice training aid for many years (aaargh!) before being rescued by Brian Kelley, after an extensive/expensive restoration by Tim Becroft, well known Australian Chipmunk guru, it flew again in 2008. It's currently for sale and advertised as having a mere 370 hours TT.
Cheers,
Rod.