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RAF Chipmunks

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Old 19th Jun 2015, 09:07
  #321 (permalink)  
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Welcome RNHF Pilot and many thanks

If you have a moment ... some pics would be wonderful ... especially cockpit shots ...

Best ...

Coff.
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 10:04
  #322 (permalink)  
 
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Just saw on a thread a suggestion of the Services buying back Chipmunks - may well not be feasible, MAA and all that, but a modern "Chipmunk" in modern materials and a modern engine, but all the Chipmunk's aerodynamic qualities and handling...........(and the "smell")...................
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 12:08
  #323 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Wander00
...may well not be feasible, MAA and all that...
I'm far from being an expert on these things but would MAA be an issue, given the Chipmunk is still an in-service type?
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 12:20
  #324 (permalink)  
 
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Welcome RNHF Pilot and many thanks

If you have a moment ... some pics would be wonderful ... especially cockpit shots ...

Best ...

Coff.
I'll try and get some phots next time I'm at Historics.
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 12:38
  #325 (permalink)  
 
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Both the RAF aeroplanes are electric start. I believe that one RN aeroplane is Coffman at the moment but is likely to be converted to electric in due course.
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 12:55
  #326 (permalink)  
 
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The RN Chipmunk has an electric start as I mentioned in post #320.

As far as I know the BBMF machines have electric starts and the Army Chipmunk is electric start also.

All 4 remaining military Chipmunks share the same aircrew manual and FRC's and there is no mention of Coffman Starters in the ADS anymore. There are some variations between the aircraft in terms of instrumentation, navigation and radio fit between them all, which is reflected in the relevant sections of the ADS.
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 12:59
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RNHF_Pilot: Thank you for the info
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 13:26
  #328 (permalink)  
 
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HS - that thought had eluded me - very true - in that case seems a very good idea!
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 15:49
  #329 (permalink)  
 
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RNHF_Pilot,

Does your Chipmunk have the carb heat wired hot or are you allowed to use it?
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 21:10
  #330 (permalink)  
 
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Just re-discovered this thread after a long long gap! Ive spent years trying to find any Service info on my Chipmunk WG472 (I have all the civilian log books since its de-mob in 1957) First page I look at tonight someone called Ericferrit lists her as
4 BFTS Sywell 1952/1953 - WG472

Ive been into Sywell many times with her without realising she was coming "home".

If anyone else knows of WG472's whereabouts between 1953 and 1957 please let me know!
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 21:13
  #331 (permalink)  
 
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Brace yourself proplover, Coff is the man who can

Smudge
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 21:41
  #332 (permalink)  
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Proplover, Smudge ...

Sadly I've no info on WG472

Proplover ...

I guess you might know Rod Brown ... have you tried contacting him ? Have you also tried the RAF Museum ?

I wish I could be more help ...
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 22:37
  #333 (permalink)  
 
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Proplover:

Contact me off-board,. I have a source for RAF Chipmunk histories...

However, given the time line it's quite possible that 4 BFTS Sywell was the only unit that actually flew WG472. Most likely she went from there to an MU, was subsequently declared non-effective stock and disposed of around 1956/1957.

Last edited by Dora-9; 19th Jun 2015 at 22:50.
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Old 19th Jun 2015, 22:42
  #334 (permalink)  
 
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Chipmunk W&B - again!

At Coff's behest, I've removed all the spiders/mice/possums (no sign of the infamous carpet python though) out of the enormous box full of RAF Form 700's that I have for WG478.

I came across this 1992 amendment in the Limitations Section (note that the aircraft had a different ZFW and moment than it does now). It also implies that my statement that the front occupant has no effect on the CofG is incorrect:

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Old 19th Jun 2015, 22:59
  #335 (permalink)  
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Hi Dora-9 ...

Well done

Very interesting ... so is the entry above (crossed through in red) ... any other clues ?
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Old 20th Jun 2015, 03:03
  #336 (permalink)  
 
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Dora-9,

Thanks for braving creepy crawlys to get to the 700s. WRT to the carpet python, a friend of mine in Brookfield, always carried his 0.410 when he visited the chook house.

I was amazed to see that the rear seat limit was 264 lbs. Far higher than I expected and now I have no concerns about asking a mate of mine for a ride in his Chipmunk.

DHC were obviously prescient in anticipating the advent of ex-truckie QFIs 30 years down the road!

a modern "Chipmunk" in modern materials and a modern engine, but all the Chipmunk's aerodynamic qualities and handling...........(and the "smell")...................
Wander00,
I had the same thought. Imagine a composite Chipmunk with a carbon fibre spar, stressed to something like +10,-6 G.
It would have to be white of course, but you could put airforce markings on it. A Lycoming still wouldn't look right, but what an aeroplane it would be!

PS I personally would prefer the Canadian bubble-canopy, but I imagine that would be an option. We can but dream.

Last edited by India Four Two; 20th Jun 2015 at 06:33.
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Old 20th Jun 2015, 06:24
  #337 (permalink)  
 
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India Four Two RNHF_Pilot,

Does your Chipmunk have the carb heat wired hot or are you allowed to use it?
The Carb heat in WK608 is not wired so we can use it as required.
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Old 20th Jun 2015, 06:36
  #338 (permalink)  
 
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RNHF_PILOT,

So in your experience, is the Gypsy Major the ice generator it is reputed to be?

My military Chipmunk experience was all in the "carb air wired hot" variety and the two civil Chipmunks I flew for spinning, was so early in my flying career that I cannot remember the carb air procedures.
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Old 20th Jun 2015, 07:37
  #339 (permalink)  
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Good morning Gents ...

Dora-9's 700's are great examples ... we swapped a few eMail's last night on the topic.

That 264 lb aft limit ... I was just wondering what the average mil 'chap' would weigh in all the clobber ?

We used to say 180/200 lb for the 'body' ... but can't recall what was factored in for Bonedome, Life Preserver and Parachute ... can't remember ever being weighed full kitted
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Old 22nd Jun 2015, 09:40
  #340 (permalink)  
 
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Yes, I know it's not an RAF aircraft ...

... but it's still a Chipmunk.



This lovely picture is of CF-EGO (18028), a DHC-1B-2-S5, the last military Canadian Chipmunk type. I flew a few hours in a sister ship, CF-BXI (18058), at the Calgary Flying Club in the 70s. My instructor had about three hours on type - I had 170 hours on the T10, so I think he learned more from me, than the other way round!

This is how a Canadian Chipmunk should look. I know the old saying about if you own an aeroplane, you can paint it any colour you like, but Shuttleworth's T10 in Canadian colours looks just wrong to me.


Last edited by India Four Two; 22nd Jun 2015 at 18:25.
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