RAF Chipmunks
BEagle ...
Were either of these two Chipmunks on the ULAS fleet ?
WP861 went to New Zealand whilst WP912 is at Cosford
Were either of these two Chipmunks on the ULAS fleet ?
WP861 went to New Zealand whilst WP912 is at Cosford
Dora-9, yes, WP981 certainly does. I flew it many times in my ULAS time - in fact it's the first RAF aeroplane I ever flew solo. White Waltham, 6 Feb 1969 for 1 circuit after 0:35 dual with Jerry Brown, the professional Fg Off!
OK....not got full W_ tail numbers for all of these (and obviously never got picked up by CFI for being lazy when he signed the Monthly Summaries!), but, ULAS '69-'71 from my logbook:
WK518, WP974, WD361, WP861, 810, 876, 778, WZ873, 981, 872, 781, 697, WD345.
I have more from my time with 8 AEF Shawbury, 2(?) at Hurn and a number of summer camps whilst at AAEE.
PS> BEagle....my first solo also launched by Jerry Brown, but WP974!
WK518, WP974, WD361, WP861, 810, 876, 778, WZ873, 981, 872, 781, 697, WD345.
I have more from my time with 8 AEF Shawbury, 2(?) at Hurn and a number of summer camps whilst at AAEE.
PS> BEagle....my first solo also launched by Jerry Brown, but WP974!
Last edited by idle stop; 10th May 2013 at 08:46.
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All ...
Pardon my lack of manners in not providing an earlier reply to some of the posts to my thread here ... Mrs Coff has had me landscaping the garden by hand last week !
First of all I would thoroughly recommend the book DHC-1 Chipmunk "The Poor Man's Spitfire" ... it is the veritable King James Bible for this wonderful little aeroplane ... all 440 pages of it ... along with a considerable number of B&W/colour photos. The UK Military Chapters are particularly good
Ex FSO GRIFFO
Many thanks for your post ... great to hear WB728/VH-RWI is still flying. Deep respect and appreciation to you and chaps like you that have the commitment and resources to keep the old girls flying.
I was last in touch with Rod before Christmas ... he pops up here occasionally on PPRuNe.
Please do keep us posted on WB728
Clicker
Thanks again for more stunning pictures ! Still working through a lookup of the serials in the aforementioned Bible
WG308 seemingly "Armed" makes an interesting image ... I'd love to have knocked up a couple of 1/2 scale sidewinders/pylons and done a temporary under wing mount job way back when ... it would have made a few heads turn
BTW ... I think I'm right in saying that WK585, based a Shoreham, has now one of the lowest time airframes following an extensive/costly rebuild.
Dora-9
Thanks for sharing your stunning pictures from down-under ... again deep respect to everyone involved in keep them airworthy
Zetec2
I understand that G-ATTS (Ex WP895) was used as the test airframe for the turbine conversion. During testing it was found that the turbine had too much throttle lag ... and possibly underpowered. The project was abandoned when BL took over Rover in 1967. The airframe was sold to the USA in 1969 and subsequently fitted with a 200 hp Ranger engine.
The Rover turbine, as you say, was an Argosy APU.
The Bonner conversion you refer to was, I understand, G-ARWB fitted with a Ford Bonner Super Sapphire V6 Aero Engine ... water cooled by an under wing rad similar to the P51 Mustang. I believe the airframe still remains airworth as WK611 but has been reverted to a standard Chipmunk "look" and engine i.e. minus the air scoop and rounded nose cowl ... quite a stunner in the Bonner modded state.
BEagle, Idle Stop, Skua and FireFlyBob
Thanks guys for the Log Book lookups
For us here in the Northern Hemisphere there are quite a few Chipmunk events ... but sadly there doesn't appear to be a Chipmeet this year ... usually held in Belgium.
Chipmeet
Best regards ...
Coff.
PS. Bu99er it's stopped raining ... now where is the Ibuprofen for my back
Pardon my lack of manners in not providing an earlier reply to some of the posts to my thread here ... Mrs Coff has had me landscaping the garden by hand last week !
First of all I would thoroughly recommend the book DHC-1 Chipmunk "The Poor Man's Spitfire" ... it is the veritable King James Bible for this wonderful little aeroplane ... all 440 pages of it ... along with a considerable number of B&W/colour photos. The UK Military Chapters are particularly good
Ex FSO GRIFFO
Many thanks for your post ... great to hear WB728/VH-RWI is still flying. Deep respect and appreciation to you and chaps like you that have the commitment and resources to keep the old girls flying.
I was last in touch with Rod before Christmas ... he pops up here occasionally on PPRuNe.
Please do keep us posted on WB728
Clicker
Thanks again for more stunning pictures ! Still working through a lookup of the serials in the aforementioned Bible
WG308 seemingly "Armed" makes an interesting image ... I'd love to have knocked up a couple of 1/2 scale sidewinders/pylons and done a temporary under wing mount job way back when ... it would have made a few heads turn
BTW ... I think I'm right in saying that WK585, based a Shoreham, has now one of the lowest time airframes following an extensive/costly rebuild.
Dora-9
Thanks for sharing your stunning pictures from down-under ... again deep respect to everyone involved in keep them airworthy
Zetec2
I understand that G-ATTS (Ex WP895) was used as the test airframe for the turbine conversion. During testing it was found that the turbine had too much throttle lag ... and possibly underpowered. The project was abandoned when BL took over Rover in 1967. The airframe was sold to the USA in 1969 and subsequently fitted with a 200 hp Ranger engine.
The Rover turbine, as you say, was an Argosy APU.
The Bonner conversion you refer to was, I understand, G-ARWB fitted with a Ford Bonner Super Sapphire V6 Aero Engine ... water cooled by an under wing rad similar to the P51 Mustang. I believe the airframe still remains airworth as WK611 but has been reverted to a standard Chipmunk "look" and engine i.e. minus the air scoop and rounded nose cowl ... quite a stunner in the Bonner modded state.
BEagle, Idle Stop, Skua and FireFlyBob
Thanks guys for the Log Book lookups
For us here in the Northern Hemisphere there are quite a few Chipmunk events ... but sadly there doesn't appear to be a Chipmeet this year ... usually held in Belgium.
Chipmeet
Best regards ...
Coff.
PS. Bu99er it's stopped raining ... now where is the Ibuprofen for my back
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 13th May 2013 at 06:32.
Coff, so your wife drags you out to work in the garden too?
I fully agree that Chipmunk - the Poor Man's Spitfire is the definitive Chipmunk reference. However, you were supposed to say that the best written part was the "Australian Chipmunks" chapter! I confess, at the risk of "outing" myself, that I'm the second Rod on the cover. No, I didn't choose the book's title!
Keeping a Chipmunk airworthy certainly isn't easy or cheap, but it's very rewarding too.
Regarding low time Chipmunks, I think the honours must go to VH-DHX (C1-0944). Built as a Mk.21, this one was initially G-ANAG, went to Japan as both JA3090 and JA3060, then to Honk Kong as VR-HFQ. It was badly damaged there in Typhoon "Wanda" in 1962, was used as a HAECO apprentice training aid for many years (aaargh!) before being rescued by Brian Kelley, after an extensive/expensive restoration by Tim Becroft, well known Australian Chipmunk guru, it flew again in 2008. It's currently for sale and advertised as having a mere 370 hours TT.
Cheers,
Rod.
I fully agree that Chipmunk - the Poor Man's Spitfire is the definitive Chipmunk reference. However, you were supposed to say that the best written part was the "Australian Chipmunks" chapter! I confess, at the risk of "outing" myself, that I'm the second Rod on the cover. No, I didn't choose the book's title!
Keeping a Chipmunk airworthy certainly isn't easy or cheap, but it's very rewarding too.
Regarding low time Chipmunks, I think the honours must go to VH-DHX (C1-0944). Built as a Mk.21, this one was initially G-ANAG, went to Japan as both JA3090 and JA3060, then to Honk Kong as VR-HFQ. It was badly damaged there in Typhoon "Wanda" in 1962, was used as a HAECO apprentice training aid for many years (aaargh!) before being rescued by Brian Kelley, after an extensive/expensive restoration by Tim Becroft, well known Australian Chipmunk guru, it flew again in 2008. It's currently for sale and advertised as having a mere 370 hours TT.
Cheers,
Rod.
Last edited by Dora-9; 12th May 2013 at 00:09.
He's done a good job. Here's a picture of her when she was VR-HFQ belonging to the Far East FLying Training School in 1960
And this is what she looked like after Typhoon Wanda struck in 1962
Seems she retains the original wide chord rudder, but had aquired spin strakes.
And this is what she looked like after Typhoon Wanda struck in 1962
Seems she retains the original wide chord rudder, but had aquired spin strakes.
My mate Gary prefighting one of the Chippys borrowed for the ATC summer camp at Coltishall, 1989.
The SERCO groundcrew trying to find the reason for my mag drop. A plug change by the look of it. the boss, Sqn Ldr Terry Lloyd supervises and provided the essential tea, without which they don't function - note mugs on ground!
The SERCO groundcrew trying to find the reason for my mag drop. A plug change by the look of it. the boss, Sqn Ldr Terry Lloyd supervises and provided the essential tea, without which they don't function - note mugs on ground!
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(Photographer : Bill Bushell : CTPMS)
Now let's speculate for a moment ...
Apparently it was hoped that the Bonner conversion might have been of interest to the MOD. Essentially a 3.0 litre Ford V6 engine fitted with a turbocharger. Bill Bonner won the Kings Cup in 1973 at a speed of 142.7 mph (124 kts) in the above machine.
Had the MOD progressed with the Bonner conversion then RAF Training Flight Lines could have been graced with a really mean looking machine ... just add Sharks Teeth and possibly a bubble canopy
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 12th May 2013 at 12:18.
I wonder if the Terry Lloyd above is he who features more often than most in the Telegraph Letters Columns?
Possibly, but Terry never struck me a particularly controversial character. An absolute gentleman but not really prone to opinionated outbursts.
Last edited by Megaton; 12th May 2013 at 10:46.
CoffmanStarter, GARWB belonged to the Sherwood Flying Club at Tollerton (Nottingham) for quite a few years (in the late 1960s/early 1970s) Will have to check but think I did my first night solo in her amongst quite a few other flights.
Recall one of our instructors who fell in love with a French lady and one of the instructors flew GARWB to Marseilles for the wedding! The major task was sorting all the crystals for the radio frequencies on the way and having to change same at each stop.
Recall one of our instructors who fell in love with a French lady and one of the instructors flew GARWB to Marseilles for the wedding! The major task was sorting all the crystals for the radio frequencies on the way and having to change same at each stop.
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Bonner Chipmunk
Coffman Starter, thanks for the info re Bonners Chipmunk, he was a customer of mine when he was powerboat racing & had his workshop at Shoreham back late 80's (supplied him with Aeroducting, hardware etc) seem to remember his workshop was at the rear of John & Jenny Pothecary's hangar ?, his Chipmunk had gone by then but he was always telling tales of his exploits & made a rotten cup of coffee !, nice to see the photo with acknowledgement to the late Bill Bushell, a friend of mine from Bicester & colleague from CSE. thanks again, B Rgds, PH.
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FFB ...
Very limiting with 10 Channels VHF at 25 Khz spacing ... I can't remember the formula now (perhaps Dan can ?) ... but quite easy to re-tune if you have an aerial coax connector with a low voltage bulb soldered across the contacts ... then tune the set with a new crystal indicated by the bulb glowing the brightest !
Of course that was for the Radio Tech to do
Coff.
Very limiting with 10 Channels VHF at 25 Khz spacing ... I can't remember the formula now (perhaps Dan can ?) ... but quite easy to re-tune if you have an aerial coax connector with a low voltage bulb soldered across the contacts ... then tune the set with a new crystal indicated by the bulb glowing the brightest !
Of course that was for the Radio Tech to do
Coff.
ULAS 69-72
I can confirm WP861 as being on ULAS in '69. To Idle Stop's compendium I can also add WP833 and WD 785.
Chris Booth risked his career by sending me solo in WZ 876.
I can confirm WP861 as being on ULAS in '69. To Idle Stop's compendium I can also add WP833 and WD 785.
Chris Booth risked his career by sending me solo in WZ 876.
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Chris Booth Didn`t he Fly for 6AEF in mid 80s 85-86 (i was Field aviation ground crew then at RAF Abingdon) and another Character Gordon Clack who i think flew RRs Spitfire?
Fonmd days after i left RAF. Plenty of flights as well when ran out of cadets and we`d go off and taxy back to hangar afterwards
When i was on VASS at RAF Lossiemouth in 84, there was a Private Tiger Moth and Chippy based there got plentyof flying in both of them for washing down after flying. I wonder if they`re still airworthy?
Fonmd days after i left RAF. Plenty of flights as well when ran out of cadets and we`d go off and taxy back to hangar afterwards
When i was on VASS at RAF Lossiemouth in 84, there was a Private Tiger Moth and Chippy based there got plentyof flying in both of them for washing down after flying. I wonder if they`re still airworthy?
Last edited by grollie; 13th May 2013 at 14:06.
ULAS's ( and subsequently RAFC's) Chris Booth was a well known Shackleton 2 exponent over many years, including latterly being O.C. 8sqn. IIRC.
On another subject, there are some very experienced QFI's on this thread.
Can I raise the issue of tandem (e.g Chipmunk, Tucano) v Side by side seating( e.g. Bulldog and J.P. ) in the instructional environment on elementary and basic flying training?
I am familiar with the traditional arguments for and against but would like to hear some informed comment, if anybody would care to add their opinions.
On another subject, there are some very experienced QFI's on this thread.
Can I raise the issue of tandem (e.g Chipmunk, Tucano) v Side by side seating( e.g. Bulldog and J.P. ) in the instructional environment on elementary and basic flying training?
I am familiar with the traditional arguments for and against but would like to hear some informed comment, if anybody would care to add their opinions.
''Very limiting with 10 Channels VHF at 25 Khz spacing ... I can't remember the formula now (perhaps Dan can ?) ... ''
Not a sccoby! I was flew them and the only interaction I had with that radio was turning the knob and hoping the frequency came up. I don't even have a physicis O level!
Meanwhile, here's some footage of Hamble's Chippys in the 60s.
AIRLINE PILOT - BOAC , 40790 - YouTube
Not a sccoby! I was flew them and the only interaction I had with that radio was turning the knob and hoping the frequency came up. I don't even have a physicis O level!
Meanwhile, here's some footage of Hamble's Chippys in the 60s.
AIRLINE PILOT - BOAC , 40790 - YouTube
Last edited by Dan Winterland; 20th May 2013 at 04:04.