Happy 75th to the Chippie

[chopper2004]

Happy 75th Birthday to the iconic DeHavilland Chipmunk as on this day May 22nd 1946 it flew for the first time anyhow last weekend we attended Spies and Intrigue at Old Warden and saw BBMF Chippie.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/6b24b429_6994_4a5c_9f29_10e11e36503d_16fa8deff5b9a83a64a1bed 10bef199f7b52f855.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/7997b717_07e5_4203_857a_a0a77bd3ef60_f7a27dcb2b746f1ba1c57dc dbffec7559e97a204.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/01dccb94_2c66_4cb9_a132_24015ce0a18a_1009a61e115917e8105e0fd 6493412c44de2d613.jpeg

[diginagain]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1059x780/wb654_92b3b05409f1761bb5bb88e31a4cabd3bf211d4f.jpg

[wwoody01]

First aircraft I ever flew in as a young Air Cadet in 1985 was in WP805 of 6 AEF Abingdon. Later when posted as a young AATC to Abingdon, managed to bag a few more flights. Just returned from an enjoyable day at the birthday fly-in at Old Warden. Was hoping to see WP805, but was not to be on this occasion.

Steve

[tarantonight]

First aircraft I ever flew in as a young Air Cadet in 1985 was in WP805 of 6 AEF Abingdon. Later when posted as a young AATC to Abingdon, managed to bag a few more flights. Just returned from an enjoyable day at the birthday fly-in at Old Warden. Was hoping to see WP805, but was not to be on this occasion.

Steve

Also flew in one as an Air Cadet. Still remember waddling out to the aircraft feeling like a trussed up Turkey in that seat parachute😳.

[MPN11]

Also flew in one as an Air Cadet. Still remember waddling out to the aircraft feeling like a trussed up Turkey in that seat parachute😳.
Yup, same here ... but an important life moment for a youngster!

First ever flight ... 13/3/59 ... WP981 at White Waltham, CCF AE Day.

Ooh, amazing!!

[Jump Complete]

I remember nearly castrating myself with the parachute harness when I swung my leg over the side of the cockpit on my first AEF chipmunk flight. Noisy and cold (mid-winter) I loved every second, and after a demonstration had me flying loops. 8000 hours flying, 30 + types and 30 years later, I still remember that Chipmunk flight clearly.

[flyingorthopod]

Lovely lovely aeroplanes which always bring a smile.

First flight in one was 1994, St Mawgan, detached AEF. PIlot recognised my name because, as a master pilot in 1965, he had been my Dad's QFI.

[Blossy]

Simply the most enjoyable fixed wing aircraft I have ever flown.
The most enjoyable rotary wing type was the Skeeter.
Thank you, Army Air Corps.

[Ninthace]

Airfix are bringing out a new 1/48 scale kit. I have one on order. I confess to probably having spent more time looking at the back end of one than sitting in them but I have had several enjoyable trips. We had one at Cosford which was much improved by the Lycoming conversion while I was there. It meant going out over the trees rather than between them. Happy Birthday.:ok:

[Dora-9]

Lovely lovely aeroplanes which always bring a smile.

I couldn't have said it better!

[megan]

Lovely lovely aeroplanes which always bring a smile+1
Who wouldn't want to fly a Spitfire, even if it's the poor mans version, it was said the two had similar handling. Soloed in WB622 after it had been demobbed, loved every minute of the thirty or so hours.

[innuendo]

Friend of mine sent me a photo of an RCAF Chipmunk now owned by the son of a squadron mate of mine from the early sixties. I have the fin number of the aircraft in my logbook from my initial training in late 1958.
It looks in beautiful condition, (and my squadron mate looks in pretty good shape too!).
It would be really neat to get a ride in it and have the same aircraft in my logbook some 60 + years later.

[pontifex]

Don't want to be one up but my first flight was in a Chippy on Dec17 1956 in UM 054 at Centralia Ontario. Went solo on Jan 8. I thought it was a pretty cool machine too and better looking with its bubble canopy than the UK version although I subsequently flew that rather more than the Canadian one. Both were great fun to fly.
'

[Haraka]

Yup, same here ... but an important life moment for a youngster!

First ever flight ... 13/3/59 ... WP981 at White Waltham, CCF AE Day.

Ooh, amazing!!
'981 was still going strong on ULAS at WW in the early 70's

[Dan Winterland]

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1124/20210522_153607_765fa2b0b9372def9d9c906292c3a557d55cda49.jpg

[Sleeve Wing]

Gentlemen,

A couple of shots taken at Old Warden on the 22nd.May, 2021. 16 ship formation led by Robert Miller. I think they did the aeroplane proud, don't you ?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1944x1296/chip1_f6c48c9f2f55bc879e722e4e205cb6578c9da14d.jpg
© Aeronut, I think...... Iain ?
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1379/chip2_0e1cc59568407c1c2a2843ab9b89467459cf3547.jpg
© Neil Kirby

[PlusNet]

Fond memory of flying this one

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/945x566/g_iddy_569080bab6ac3dcada6171f4d33dc6c0897a1bae.png

[Martin the Martian]

It was certainly a great day yesterday, and the weather played ball as well. I counted 35 Chipmunks on the ground in the end.

[Fareastdriver]

Way back in 1952 RAF Heany reequipped with Chipmunks to replace its Tiger Moths. About a year later the station was closed and all the aircraft were either scrapped or sold. Byers from as far as Australia came to bid on Chipmunks of varying age including some still in their transport crates.

[Rocket2]

I regard myself as being incredibly lucky to have ammased well over 500 hours flying Gypsy & Lyncoming powered Chipmunks, I loved every second in them & miss the experience every day now. Thank you DH. R2

[LandingCheck]

DHC never built a bad airplane, and the Chipmunk was possibly the best.

[longer ron]

Gentlemen,

A couple of shots taken at Old Warden on the 22nd.May, 2021. 16 ship formation led by Robert Miller. I think they did the aeroplane proud, don't you ?


They certainly did :)
The Chippie is a lovely aeroplane,I did lots of Chippie flying with our wonderful VR(T) Pilots whilst a Rigger on Chipmunks/Bulldogs at Abingdon in 1980-83 (much to the displeasure of my Flt Sgt :) ).
As an aside - I had a great trip in a 231 OCU Canberra T4 (whilst a Rigger on 231) in 1974 - the pilot was one R 'Dusty' Miller,he was a 'Trapper' on the OCU at that time iirc - he still looks much the same as he did then :)

[lauriebe]

Excellent photos of a lovely aeroplane. A birthday well marked.

Had a total of 12 flights in the 'Chippie' mostly courtesy of No.4 AEF from Plymouth/Roborough in the early 60s.

Only managed one flight in the front seat. That was for a PPL check ride in the Plymouth Aero Club Chippie, G-ARDF IIRC, with the club CFI, Bill Lucas in the back.

Last flight was in mid-69 but would dearly love to climb into one again.

[Herod]

DHC never built a bad airplane, and the Chipmunk was possibly the best.

Second that. I've flown two of their products, the Chippie and Twin Otter. Both lovely machines.

[VictorGolf]

Are we sure that DH never built a bad aeroplane? DH 108, 3 built 3 crashed. The Ozzies have views on how bad the DH86 was and didn't the Leopard (or Puss>) Moth have a habit of shedding wings Or more recently was the DH121 Trident good or bad? Just saying..

[Bergerie1]

I think the DH121 would have been a very good aircraft had BEA not ruined the specification.

[spekesoftly]

I thought LandingCheck's comment was specifically referring to DH Canada (DHC)?

[VictorGolf]

Quite correct. My apologies to Downsview.

[Wetstart Dryrun]

Rattly, noisy, smelly and slow. Usually equipped with a whining puking bag of misery in the back. That's a QFI or a cadet

.....quite charming.

Wets

[Herod]

Well, Wetstart (an appropriate name perhaps), you seem very much in a minority of one. I think most people here would be very happy for the chance to fly your "rattly, noisy, smelly and slow" aeroplane.

[Wetstart Dryrun]

But charming, very extremely charming, beautifully charming.

Anyone seen my litotes?

[blind pew]

121 was a great aeroplane, it was those that were responsible for training and didn’t understand it that was the problem. Once they retired BEA stopped breaking them, well most of them.
Isn’t the last aeroplane where the pilots weren’t given the right information...my last one had two stall warnings flying split arse circuits into Nice as the books incorrectly stated all time speed protection ; F100.

[Fly3]

First flew this lovely aircraft at Roborough in 1970 during my flying grading for the FAA. Sent solo by the very laid back Mr Godffery and can remember the pre-landing checks to this day: "My Friend Fred Has Hairy Balls" Mixture, Fuel, Flaps, Hood, Harness, Brakes. Continued my association with the type during RNEFTS at Church Fenton and Rufforth. Happy days.

[Bergerie1]

blind pew, I was not thinking of its flying characteristics but of its commercial viability and therefore lack of worldwide sales. De Havilland's original design of the DH121 was for a larger aircraft but BEA decided they knew better and wanted something smaller. Had BEA not done that, the DH121 might have captured the B727 market.

[blind pew]

Bergerie my take was always about fun and esthetics. I.E. Nice to play with and does she look good. Worked my whole life from crumpet, motorbikes, cars and aeroplanes...commercial viability never came into it especially with women and motorbikes. Even our old steed, the VC10 didn’t capture the market but didn’t she look good.
Did my flying selection on a chippy, nearly crashed, a lot of bouncing and my first Aeros; whilst not as graceful and demanding as glider aerobatics still fun.