Chipmunk Mk.23
Hi All, I'm writing an article about flying Chipmunk Mk.23 Tango Fox/Bumblemunk and would welcome any info on it. Does anyone know why it was only in the RAF for a few years? Also, does anyone know anything about Farm Aviation? What happened to the other Mk23s? Cheers, Dave
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f80954efb8.jpg |
Its first civil owner was the RAE (Farnborough) Aero Club, so maybe some kind of under-the-counter transaction ?
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Farm Aviation of Rush Green, Hertfordshire (just South of Hitchin/West of Stevenage) was a crop-spraying outfit. Bill Bowker was the man behind it, I think, and they certainly had a Chipmunk of that reg.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bdabb24dbd.jpg |
Thanks Dave & Allan, all useful stuff. Interesting that it clearly still has a Gypsy engine - as a sprayer I'd assumed that part of the conversion was to fit a better, more powerful engine.
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Originally Posted by DaveUnwin
(Post 10671975)
Interesting that it clearly still has a Gypsy engine - as a sprayer I'd assumed that part of the conversion was to fit a better, more powerful engine.
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I like the elastic bands holding the u/c fairings on.
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Originally Posted by DaveUnwin
(Post 10670128)
What happened to the other Mk23s?
G-APOS C1/0763 ex WP893 to N8345 8/1969, current as N40291 with Lycoming GO-480 G-ASPW C1/0602 ex WK580 (composite, with parts of C1/0193 ex WB746) w/o after hitting cables at Wheathampstead 1/7/1967 G-ATVF C1/0265 ex WD327 current, based at RAF Halton G-AOTF C1/0015 ex WB563 current with Lycoming O-360, based at Saltby The first two were DH conversions; the other three were converted by Farm Aviation. |
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
(Post 10672044)
If I'm not mistaken, in the photo in post #1 it has a Lycoming O-360, whereas in the earlier B&W photo it still has the Gipsy Major.
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Originally Posted by DaveUnwin
(Post 10671975)
Thanks Dave & Allan, all useful stuff. Interesting that it clearly still has a Gypsy engine - as a sprayer I'd assumed that part of the conversion was to fit a better, more powerful engine.
without putting a date to it. Whether the Gipsy Major 10 Series 2 or the Lycoming O-360 is the "better" engine is not for me to say, but they were 145 b.h.p. and 180 b.h.p. |
The O-360 is lighter, more powerful and more reliable - and uses a LOT less oil!
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... but ruins the lines of originally pretty aeroplanes.
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Originally Posted by Allan Lupton
(Post 10672082)
Whether the Gipsy Major 10 Series 2 or the Lycoming O-360 is the "better" engine is not for me to say, but they were 145 b.h.p. and 180 b.h.p.
Interesting that the US owner has restored this Mk.23 to the original Chipmunk tandem 2-seat configuration. Shame about the rudder. :O |
Nice, so now he's b**ggered both ends of an otherwise pretty aeroplane!!!
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Originally Posted by Kemble Pitts
(Post 10672115)
... but ruins the lines of originally pretty aeroplanes.
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Sorry, I place power and reliability above pretty. |
My inclination is to prefer originality when dealing with out of date machinery rather than post-period redesign - in my case it's cars, but I think/hope most owners of old aeroplanes take that view. For example, would you re-engine a Spitfire with something more powerful than and a different shape from a RR Merlin?
The de Havilland Gipsy Major engine is quite common and has a good support for overhaul, etc. |
Australia has its share of Chippie mods.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ddf82f4f2e.jpg Sasin Aerostructures SA-29 Spraymaster: Photo Geoff Goodall https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....67f034db26.jpg SA29 Spraymaster. The original engine was swapped out for a 210 hp Continental, although a Mk 2 version was offered with a conventional 145 hp Gipsy Major 10. The aircraft above was the Sundowner (non agricultural) variant featuring a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine: Photo Ed Coates |
With regard to a Spitfire of course not Allan, but TF works, and sometimes works hard. The O-360 is a better engine from every perspective, which is why they junked the Gypsy. I flew a Beagle Terrier last year that had had the same conversion - nicest Auster I'd ever flown!
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Originally Posted by Kemble Pitts
(Post 10672123)
Nice, so now he's b**ggered both ends of an otherwise pretty aeroplane!!!
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Dave /Allan ,the Allison V1710 could be a replacement for the Merlin,in Spitfires,one in USA and one in France,both replicas,but not here,I fear..!
The picture of Farm Aviation G-APOS in the video shows it has `slats`fitted on the outboard wing section;anyone know if this was `deH mod ` ,or FmAv…? Difficult to tell if `OTF` had them fitted as well.... |
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