Help needed on 8 AEF Chippies 1966-1972
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: northofwhereiusedtobe
Posts: 1,336
Yes - I was based at UEF (university engineering flight),Abingdon 1980 - 83 and we did running changes as the norm with cadet flying,it was a safe enough procedure with a chippie - its taildragger wing angle/distance of rear cockpit from prop and the prop wash itself virtually assured that nobody would fall fwd towards the prop.
And yes the cartridge start 'bang' used to wake people up
Most of our flying was done from our line huts well away from the main station buildings,normally just the first start of the day was on the apron outside 'B' Hangar.
And yes the cartridge start 'bang' used to wake people up

Most of our flying was done from our line huts well away from the main station buildings,normally just the first start of the day was on the apron outside 'B' Hangar.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: CYWH (Victoria)
Posts: 5,517
Slight thread-drift, but it’s still about 8 AEF.
On a miserable winter’s day in the late 60s, flying had been scrubbed, so the Boss decided to show a film to entertain his Cadet Pilots and APOs. The film was an RCAF film about survival in the bush following a crash-landing. It was very well done and had some very realistic “injuries”.
The Air Cadets who had also had their flying cancelled, were invited in to watch. Prior to starting the projector, the VRT officer in charge of them, warned them that the film was quite realistic and if any of them felt unwell, they should go outside.
The film starts and shows the events leading up to the crash-landing, and then the post-accident triage of the casualties. At one point, there was a close-up of a bloody hole in a chest, with bubbles coming out, accompanied by a voiceover “My god, it’s a sucking wound!”
At this point, there was a moan at the back of the room as the VRT officer fainted, much to the amusement of his cadets, who were lapping up the blood and gore!
On a miserable winter’s day in the late 60s, flying had been scrubbed, so the Boss decided to show a film to entertain his Cadet Pilots and APOs. The film was an RCAF film about survival in the bush following a crash-landing. It was very well done and had some very realistic “injuries”.
The Air Cadets who had also had their flying cancelled, were invited in to watch. Prior to starting the projector, the VRT officer in charge of them, warned them that the film was quite realistic and if any of them felt unwell, they should go outside.
The film starts and shows the events leading up to the crash-landing, and then the post-accident triage of the casualties. At one point, there was a close-up of a bloody hole in a chest, with bubbles coming out, accompanied by a voiceover “My god, it’s a sucking wound!”
At this point, there was a moan at the back of the room as the VRT officer fainted, much to the amusement of his cadets, who were lapping up the blood and gore!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chatteris, Cambs, UK
Age: 64
Posts: 12
Hello everyone. Many, many thanks for the posts thus far. Sadly WP859 does appear to be an elusive bird to photograph, as do the others of the era to which I'm particularly interested. I was fortunate to have a pilot from those days post to me some lovely photos of the Chippies which shows some of the markings for which I am very grateful. If anyone does find more pics then please share them.
Cheers
Adrian
Cheers
Adrian
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 805
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chatteris, Cambs, UK
Age: 64
Posts: 12
Here is another one of WG417. It shows the starboard side and location of the dayglow bands and the 8AEF pale blue and yellow fuselage flash and yellow/ black winged 8. The pics are out there somewhere
Adrian
Adrian
Last edited by Adrianh; 9th Jun 2018 at 10:17.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chatteris, Cambs, UK
Age: 64
Posts: 12
Hi Folks,
My quest continues. I now have a 1/5 scale "Tester" Chippy which is in the final stages of build and finishing and the 1/4 scale one is in build. Here iare a couple of pics of the progress thus far.
Cheers


My quest continues. I now have a 1/5 scale "Tester" Chippy which is in the final stages of build and finishing and the 1/4 scale one is in build. Here iare a couple of pics of the progress thus far.
Cheers


Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chatteris, Cambs, UK
Age: 64
Posts: 12
Here are pics of the finished aircraft at 1/5 scale. Due to the Covid restrictions I have not been able to carry out the maiden. Since the lifting of restrictions the weather has intervened so nothing to do but carry out some engine tests and pre flight preparations. Hopefully a suitable weather window will appear soon.









Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: SEUK
Age: 73
Posts: 640
. . . You soon became familiar with linking fleet letters against individual airframes even though they were normally referred to by the number (only) element of the registration. When walking out to a large flight line in inclement weather, you wanted the journey to your allocated steed to be as short as possible, and the large fleet letters could be seen at a distance.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 4DME
Posts: 2,055
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 171
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SE Qld, Australia
Age: 74
Posts: 1,026
WG478 had a white spinner. Can't remember the others.
I have a vested interest here as I'm the proud owner of WG478 (VH-MMS).
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 56
Posts: 7,420
That's good news - I've got a 1/48 vac form Chippy in the loft - bit beyond my skill level - or do I mean patience level?
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: SEUK
Age: 73
Posts: 640
Hi Dora-9. Lucky you - owning '478. I did many early lessons in it in 1967. Here are 4 pix - I took the line-up pic myself (late '68) but the others come from other sources ('309 & '316 dated 04/11/67 and '478 dated 03/06/68). Impossible to determine spinner colours from monochrome images, of course.






