RAF Chipmunks
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Hi Paul ...
Thanks for you're post and welcome to PPRuNe ... I'm sure quite a few would like to see your Dad's picture ... we might need to check that serial number, as I believe VS285 was assigned to a Percival Prentice T1.
I'll drop you a PM to help with posting the pic ...
Best regards ...
Coff.
Thanks for you're post and welcome to PPRuNe ... I'm sure quite a few would like to see your Dad's picture ... we might need to check that serial number, as I believe VS285 was assigned to a Percival Prentice T1.
I'll drop you a PM to help with posting the pic ...
Best regards ...
Coff.
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I got to fly in what was WB730, now G-AOUO.
She is now a Supermunk...and spends her days towing gliders!
Photo Search Results | Airliners.net
She is now a Supermunk...and spends her days towing gliders!
Photo Search Results | Airliners.net
Last edited by Tupperware Pilot; 13th Jul 2012 at 05:24.
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DW ... IMHO ... the Chipmunk remains one of the finest Basic Trainers to have flown ... thanks for the post ... I sadly miss performing aeros in this wonderful little aeroplane 
Coff.
Coff.
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Aaaah Chippy.
My second flight - first was gliding down at Predannack.
Chippy - the bondage parachute
My first flight was from St, Mawgan to Bodmin, right over my parents house - I was 13 and nine months on the day of my flight. I had to wait for aeros till my second trip - my third I got to fly the aeros's.
There is nothing better to get Kids into the RAF than chucking them into the wild blue yonder - my niece is tending nicely towards the Crappy Blue uniform too....
God Bless the AEF's, Hugest thanks to all the staff and volunteers who help chuck kids airborne.
My second flight - first was gliding down at Predannack.
Chippy - the bondage parachute
My first flight was from St, Mawgan to Bodmin, right over my parents house - I was 13 and nine months on the day of my flight. I had to wait for aeros till my second trip - my third I got to fly the aeros's.
There is nothing better to get Kids into the RAF than chucking them into the wild blue yonder - my niece is tending nicely towards the Crappy Blue uniform too....
God Bless the AEF's, Hugest thanks to all the staff and volunteers who help chuck kids airborne.
Pat Carroll
GGR - did he fly the IRIS Hastings from Watton in the mid 60s?
He for sure was ex Hastings but not sure about Watton and IRIS. He was OC Flow Control in Air support Command Ops. Charming man with a razor sharp wit.
GGR
He for sure was ex Hastings but not sure about Watton and IRIS. He was OC Flow Control in Air support Command Ops. Charming man with a razor sharp wit.
GGR
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Coff, Althoughit is not on your list, WK549 sat stripped down for 30 years, rotting away. My neighbour, "Tony" (CFI Rufforth) spent 10 years refurbishing her & putting her back together.
The first two photos of the cockpit show where I mounted a camera so that I could film Tony on it's inaugural flight after rebuild, but had second thoughts as it would inhibit his visibility.
This is Tony taxiing out on WK549 for it's first flight since being rebuilt.
We arranged that I would fly in a Cessna & after Tony was happy with his Test, we would meet up East of York. The Cessna would fly 500' higher & South of WK549, so that I could film & take photos over York.
After we both landed, all family & friends laid on a party in the hangar. Mrs VIProds made the cake & I built the model of WK549.
The first two photos of the cockpit show where I mounted a camera so that I could film Tony on it's inaugural flight after rebuild, but had second thoughts as it would inhibit his visibility.
This is Tony taxiing out on WK549 for it's first flight since being rebuilt.
We arranged that I would fly in a Cessna & after Tony was happy with his Test, we would meet up East of York. The Cessna would fly 500' higher & South of WK549, so that I could film & take photos over York.
After we both landed, all family & friends laid on a party in the hangar. Mrs VIProds made the cake & I built the model of WK549.
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ShortFatOne,
Thanks for the reminders about EFTS/FSS!
I was there late '86 and as far as I'm concerned, "Mad Mike" was the perfect first-ever instructor a young lad could have.
Loved his radio call for the world's smallest circuit:
"Upwind, crosswind, downwind, to land!"
Or the time he demonstrated trimming and short-field landing by having both his hands tapping my shoulders all the way down to the flare at some heinously show speed !
What a star!
He made flying such a jolly affair, which is as it should be.
I remember the adjutant's assistant as some rather tasty brummie lass, too.
Wonder where they all are now?
Thanks for the reminders about EFTS/FSS!
I was there late '86 and as far as I'm concerned, "Mad Mike" was the perfect first-ever instructor a young lad could have.
Loved his radio call for the world's smallest circuit:
"Upwind, crosswind, downwind, to land!"
Or the time he demonstrated trimming and short-field landing by having both his hands tapping my shoulders all the way down to the flare at some heinously show speed !
What a star!
He made flying such a jolly affair, which is as it should be.I remember the adjutant's assistant as some rather tasty brummie lass, too.
Wonder where they all are now?
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Where is it now?
I'm flying a Chipmunk at Alvor on Tuesday next week. Looking back in my logbook, I note my last Chippy flights were in WL540 on 6 Dec '74. Does anyone know what became of this a/c?
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I haven't looked at the Military forum for ages- so was great to see the Chipmunk Manston thread and lo and behold a picture of me! (Hiding in the background 8th from left). The Boss certainly was a character to work for- one of his stories had to do with getting lost in cloud in a Meteor over London in the 50s. Only way out was to drop to low level and follow the Thames at 150'! Must have been fun! I seem to recall that 1 AEF was dined out at a Station Dining In Night, and there was a less formal P@#s up on the last Sunday of flying in the caf at the museum. I can still remember the sore head the next day. Have got WP855 in my log book from the 31st - 2xCadets, GH and Aeros. Happy Days indeed.
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One day in 1977, as a young, spotty, long-haired BB, I waddled out to a Chipmunk at Manston for my first AEF trip. 20 mins later, having had an introduction to aeros over Pegwell Bay, (with I think a chap called Flt Lt Hammond), I was hooked! I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up!
I was lucky, the planets lined up for me and the last entry in my RAF logbook is at 4947 hours.
....but it all started with a Chippy trip at Manston!
LONG LIVE THE AEFs!
I was lucky, the planets lined up for me and the last entry in my RAF logbook is at 4947 hours.
....but it all started with a Chippy trip at Manston!
LONG LIVE THE AEFs!
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RAF Chipmunk VS285? in flight
Hi Paul ...
Just a quick follow up on your original post #60 ... VS285 is most certainly a Prentice. Many thanks for the picture which I have posted below. You might like to start a separate thread to see if the collective PPRuNe membership can help you further with your Father's RAF Service, the Prentice or RAF Swanton Morley.
Good luck ...
Best regards ...
Coff.
Just a quick follow up on your original post #60 ... VS285 is most certainly a Prentice. Many thanks for the picture which I have posted below. You might like to start a separate thread to see if the collective PPRuNe membership can help you further with your Father's RAF Service, the Prentice or RAF Swanton Morley.
Good luck ...
Best regards ...
Coff.
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Hi VIProds ...
Many thanks for your post and pictures at #70 ! I have much admiration for those dedicated people who keep our aviation heritage alive and flying ... well done to all concerned with WK549
Splendid cake
Best regards ...
Coff.
Many thanks for your post and pictures at #70 ! I have much admiration for those dedicated people who keep our aviation heritage alive and flying ... well done to all concerned with WK549
Splendid cake Best regards ...
Coff.
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Hi HongKongKiwi ...
Great to hear from you !
I've also put up a potted history of 1 AEF on Wikipedia which you might find of interest ... got a couple of amendments to make at some point
No. 1 Air Experience Flight RAF
I'll drop you a PM as I'd like to ID some of the other guys in that photo ... at the moment I only recognise Dave Croucher and Ted Girdler (RIP). I'm from the Boss Shelton era but also knew Boss Paddy Brown.
Best regards ...
Coff.
Great to hear from you !
I've also put up a potted history of 1 AEF on Wikipedia which you might find of interest ... got a couple of amendments to make at some point
No. 1 Air Experience Flight RAF
I'll drop you a PM as I'd like to ID some of the other guys in that photo ... at the moment I only recognise Dave Croucher and Ted Girdler (RIP). I'm from the Boss Shelton era but also knew Boss Paddy Brown.
Best regards ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 6th Jul 2012 at 09:17.
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Cheers Coff, mentioning the Prentice brings back a few memories, I joined the CCF, Air Section when I was 14 & a Brat at Windsor School, Hamm. We went to Gutersloh for Summer Camp & had some flying experience trips in a Prentice.
Years later our eldest Son who was in the RAF, was stationed at Gutersloh & then a few years later our youngest Son, who was in the Army Air Corps was also stationed there!!
So, back to Chipmunks....
Years later our eldest Son who was in the RAF, was stationed at Gutersloh & then a few years later our youngest Son, who was in the Army Air Corps was also stationed there!!
So, back to Chipmunks....
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Hi Banana Boy ...
That would be Alec Hammond who flew you back then ... a former Master Pilot instructor on Harvard's ... I seem to recall his final service posting was as a Comms Squadron pilot in Germany before leaving the RAF in the late 60's/early 70's for a spell in the City working for a Bank ... I believe he finally retired as a village postman here in East Sussex ... but I lost touch a very long time ago with him ... a great chap and exceptional pilot who had many interesting stories to tell
Best regards ...
Coff.
That would be Alec Hammond who flew you back then ... a former Master Pilot instructor on Harvard's ... I seem to recall his final service posting was as a Comms Squadron pilot in Germany before leaving the RAF in the late 60's/early 70's for a spell in the City working for a Bank ... I believe he finally retired as a village postman here in East Sussex ... but I lost touch a very long time ago with him ... a great chap and exceptional pilot who had many interesting stories to tell
Best regards ...
Coff.