RAF Chipmunks
ACW418,
I will second that, I was launched by aero tow in an Air Cadets ASK21 circa 1985, whilst detached to Syerston from Waddington, the AEW Nimrod didn't need me. I was "Air testing" the ASK21 after servicing it, it took me a couple of hours to wrestle it back to the ground
Coff,
I wish I had kept a record of the serial number of the aircraft we repaired at Woodvale all those years ago. As I said, I believe I read the accident report as an "I learned about flying from that" in Air clues a couple of years later. No worries. Hope you like chickenlovers baby !!!!
Smudge
I will second that, I was launched by aero tow in an Air Cadets ASK21 circa 1985, whilst detached to Syerston from Waddington, the AEW Nimrod didn't need me. I was "Air testing" the ASK21 after servicing it, it took me a couple of hours to wrestle it back to the ground
Coff,
I wish I had kept a record of the serial number of the aircraft we repaired at Woodvale all those years ago. As I said, I believe I read the accident report as an "I learned about flying from that" in Air clues a couple of years later. No worries. Hope you like chickenlovers baby !!!!
Smudge
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Coff,
On the rare occasions that ACCGS did cadet courses I think they did the first few launches by aerotow just to get more time in the air; the cadets did not fly the tow. The main purpose of ACCGS was the training and upgrading of volunteer instructors so the bulk of the aerotowing was (and still should be) for instructor courses. They use a DR400 Robin now on lease from someone. Note cadets could (and still should be able to) become instructors although due to the pre-qualification requirements could not get above B2 as they were too old to be a cadet to be qualified for an A2.
ACW
On the rare occasions that ACCGS did cadet courses I think they did the first few launches by aerotow just to get more time in the air; the cadets did not fly the tow. The main purpose of ACCGS was the training and upgrading of volunteer instructors so the bulk of the aerotowing was (and still should be) for instructor courses. They use a DR400 Robin now on lease from someone. Note cadets could (and still should be able to) become instructors although due to the pre-qualification requirements could not get above B2 as they were too old to be a cadet to be qualified for an A2.
ACW
Somebody earlier asked about a list of 6 AEF Chipmunks ...
In Sept 1978 at Abingdon they had - WB586/A, WP901/B, WK589/C, WP805/D and WZ877/uncoded (but had previously been 'G').
Their full complement in September 1988 at Abingdon was - WB586/A, WP901/B, WK589/C, WP805/D, WP914/E, WZ847/F and WP786/G.
In September 1989 at Abingdon they had - WB586/A, WP901/B, WP805/D, WP914/E and WG786/G.
I might be able to find details of what they operated between 1978 and 1988 but it is likely to be almost the same aircraft.
In Sept 1978 at Abingdon they had - WB586/A, WP901/B, WK589/C, WP805/D and WZ877/uncoded (but had previously been 'G').
Their full complement in September 1988 at Abingdon was - WB586/A, WP901/B, WK589/C, WP805/D, WP914/E, WZ847/F and WP786/G.
In September 1989 at Abingdon they had - WB586/A, WP901/B, WP805/D, WP914/E and WG786/G.
I might be able to find details of what they operated between 1978 and 1988 but it is likely to be almost the same aircraft.
Geezers,
"Sept 1978 at Abingdon they had - WB586/A, WP901/B, WK589/C, WP805/D and WZ877/uncoded (but had preBiopsy been 'G')"
Thanks for that, that was in my time there 77 - 79, I'm still sure we had 6 airframes though, and a large number of "elderly" pilots to fly em !!!!!
Smudge
"Sept 1978 at Abingdon they had - WB586/A, WP901/B, WK589/C, WP805/D and WZ877/uncoded (but had preBiopsy been 'G')"
Thanks for that, that was in my time there 77 - 79, I'm still sure we had 6 airframes though, and a large number of "elderly" pilots to fly em !!!!!
Smudge
Bit of a drift but does anyone have airframe numbers/side letters of the chippies on RNBFTS at Linton between July and November 1967? For some reason I have only recorded the side letters; it must have been officially sanctioned because I didn't get bollocked! Would be nice to have for completeness.
I will try as well.
Bill.
Bill.
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Mogwi ...
I don't think I'm going to be of much help here, but the following might help a little with your quest
I believe at Linton from 1961 to 1969 the Chipmunk fleet was coded A to Z but I don't have the X-Ref to airframe Serial Numbers. However, I believe (but this will need substantiating) that WP809 was coded 'S' before she later displayed '912' as a RN Cowling Code.
It's quite possible that the other RN Chipmunks, with the following 3 digit Cowling Codes, were also pre coded with 'Alpha Codes' ... but again I don't have detail on the X-Ref to airframe Serial Numbers.
WP795 901
WK634 902
WD374 903
WP856 904
WK511 905
WK608 906
WB575 907
WB657 908
WP904 909
WB671 910
WP801 911
WP809 912
Hopefully Bill might have better luck ... Equally we have a few other RN contributors to this thread who might be able to help.
Best ...
Coff.
I don't think I'm going to be of much help here, but the following might help a little with your quest
I believe at Linton from 1961 to 1969 the Chipmunk fleet was coded A to Z but I don't have the X-Ref to airframe Serial Numbers. However, I believe (but this will need substantiating) that WP809 was coded 'S' before she later displayed '912' as a RN Cowling Code.
It's quite possible that the other RN Chipmunks, with the following 3 digit Cowling Codes, were also pre coded with 'Alpha Codes' ... but again I don't have detail on the X-Ref to airframe Serial Numbers.
WP795 901
WK634 902
WD374 903
WP856 904
WK511 905
WK608 906
WB575 907
WB657 908
WP904 909
WB671 910
WP801 911
WP809 912
Hopefully Bill might have better luck ... Equally we have a few other RN contributors to this thread who might be able to help.
Best ...
Coff.
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Having passed out high up on my Chippy course and thorouighly enjoyed very hour, but failed when given something more difficult to fly.
I felt the Chippy was to easy to fly to be a suitable basic RAF trainer, perhaps the prop Provost was better.
One thing I always remember, taxing out for my first solo, terrible rattling noise. Looked round, instructor had properly fastened harness in rear cockpit, but left it rather slack. Had me worried for a bit.
I felt the Chippy was to easy to fly to be a suitable basic RAF trainer, perhaps the prop Provost was better.
One thing I always remember, taxing out for my first solo, terrible rattling noise. Looked round, instructor had properly fastened harness in rear cockpit, but left it rather slack. Had me worried for a bit.
Last edited by Exnomad; 1st Nov 2015 at 15:18.
Anyone fancy rescuing an old Chippie?
Chipmunk Aircraft Condition: Disassembled Vintage chipmunk aircraft, in disassembled form, ide
A lot of work appears to be needed!
LJ
Chipmunk Aircraft Condition: Disassembled Vintage chipmunk aircraft, in disassembled form, ide
A lot of work appears to be needed!
LJ
No 10 Squadron has a Memorial, inaugurated in 1985, at the entrance to the farm that is now on the site of its WW2 base at Melbourne, east of York - and a Remembrance Service is held there each year. Yesterday morning, some 80 former Squadron members, the current CO and a Standard party from the Squadron, plus families and Squadron Association members gathered for what will be the last formal event of the Squadron's centenary year .... and as the Service was about to start, they were joined by a locally based Chipmunk paying its own tribute. Really quite wonderful!
Leon:
That's quite odd, as the rear fuselage of WZ868 was at Jandakot, West AUstralia - a very long way from South Wales -a few years back:
That's quite odd, as the rear fuselage of WZ868 was at Jandakot, West AUstralia - a very long way from South Wales -a few years back:
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Here is the AAIB report on the sad demise of G-BCIW/WZ868:
https://assets.digital.cabinet-offic...BCIW_01-92.pdf
The damage report might suggest that the rear fuse at Jandakot might be the one damaged at Hulcote. A little bit of cloning going on?
https://assets.digital.cabinet-offic...BCIW_01-92.pdf
The damage report might suggest that the rear fuse at Jandakot might be the one damaged at Hulcote. A little bit of cloning going on?
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Hi Leon ...
Many thanks ... But I've already 'sorted' Mrs Coff's Christmas present
Seriously ... I suspect one would need sufficient financial resources (and not have the worry of a budget) and then phone John Romain at ARC
Best wishes ...
PS. The image on 'Flickr' from 2013 blow, suggests the airframe as been stored outside unprotected
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanwz581/8586226062
Many thanks ... But I've already 'sorted' Mrs Coff's Christmas present
Seriously ... I suspect one would need sufficient financial resources (and not have the worry of a budget) and then phone John Romain at ARC
Best wishes ...
PS. The image on 'Flickr' from 2013 blow, suggests the airframe as been stored outside unprotected
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanwz581/8586226062
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 10th Nov 2015 at 12:02.
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Not only that Coff, the Flickr suggests that the frame is not WZ868, but actually WG322. More digging required.
My Duxford contacts tell me that the real G-BCIW/WZ868 was damaged in the manner shown in Dora 9's pic taken at Jandakot.
As ever, buyer beware.
Update:
Looks like it is WG322/G-ARMF, painted as WZ868. The web shows it currently located at St Athan, which ties in with the auction notes.
Update 2:
Oh, and G-ARMF has had its own excitement also:
https://assets.digital.cabinet-offic...pdf_500297.pdf
My Duxford contacts tell me that the real G-BCIW/WZ868 was damaged in the manner shown in Dora 9's pic taken at Jandakot.
As ever, buyer beware.
Update:
Looks like it is WG322/G-ARMF, painted as WZ868. The web shows it currently located at St Athan, which ties in with the auction notes.
Update 2:
Oh, and G-ARMF has had its own excitement also:
https://assets.digital.cabinet-offic...pdf_500297.pdf
Last edited by Mandator; 10th Nov 2015 at 09:20.
Mandator:
Thanks indeed for that clarification. It sounds rather like the false identity situation with Chipmunk "FM-1022" in the RMAF Museum at Kuala Lumpur.
I do know the owner of the Jandakot fuselages in my photo, but currently I can't get hold of him....
Thanks indeed for that clarification. It sounds rather like the false identity situation with Chipmunk "FM-1022" in the RMAF Museum at Kuala Lumpur.
I do know the owner of the Jandakot fuselages in my photo, but currently I can't get hold of him....