RAF Chipmunks

[Hueymeister]

All 3 top blokes. Ced and his team were responsible for me getting into the RAF as a pilot; I subsequently went back and flew the Chippy at 5 AEF for a while. Last saw Ced and Anne when I dropped in a few yrs back. Ced if you read this, drop me a line.

[India Four Two]

Can anyone tell me how to go about obtaining the service history of an individual Chipmunk?

[CoffmanStarter]

Good morning I42 ...

Dora-9 would be a good first bet ...

What is the subject Serial No ?

Best

Coff.

[binbrook]

Chipmunk Carb Heat

BEagle:

I don't remember any mention of carb heat in relation to engine materials, but this may have become a problem as the higher octane fuels had to be introduced. The carb heat was certainly wired in 'Hot' in 1954, when the fuel in use had a rating of around 70 to 80 (anyone got a copy of the early PN?) which is what I'd have thought the Gypsy Major was intended for.

[India Four Two]

CS,

It's WD353, which was part of the UBAS fleet in the late 60s.

[India Four Two]

The carb heat was certainly wired in 'Hot' in 1954, when the fuel in use had a rating of around 70 to 80 (anyone got a copy of the early PN?) which is what I'd have thought the Gypsy Major was intended for.

binbrook,

I have a copy of RAF PILOT'S NOTES FOR CHIPMUNK T10 A.P. 4308A-P.N. February 1950. The operation of the "Air Intake Heat Control" is detailed in the Part I - Descriptive Section, but there is no mention of when to use it in Part II - Handling or Part IV - Emergencies. There is also no mention of baling out, which is surprising.

The RAF PILOT'S NOTES CHIPMUNK T. Mk. 10 A.P.4308A-P.N. 3rd Edition June 1966, which is the document I was issued, has an expanded 'Descriptive Section':

On some aircraft this control may be wired to HOT if the air temperature is below 30° C; if COLD air is used below this temperature, carburettor icing may occur, indicated by rough running and loss of power.

The 'Testing the Engine' section does not mention the carburettor heat but 'Checks before takeoff' section includes:

Carburettor air-intake as required

The 'Handling in flight' section includes:

As the engine is prone to carburettor icing, it is recommended that the air-intake heat control should be wired in the HOT position in temperatures below 30° C. If the control is used in the COLD position, icing may occur, indicated by rough running or loss of power. If icing does not clear shortly after selecting HOT air, manipulation of the throttle may assist.

The 'Checks before landing' section, which is now the famous "My Friend Fred ..." mnemonic includes:

Mixture ... Rich. Carburettor air as required.

[CoffmanStarter]

I42 ...

I've had a look this end ... sadly not much. Hopefully Dora-9 will be able to help further.

But here is what I have (some of which you might already know).

WD353 : Construction No C1-0291 (291st UK airframe built), Fuselage No DHB.f.170. Was UK Registered as G-BCHW. Exported to USA as N3043F : 1st US Owner J. B. McSahen of Monahans TX : 2nd US Owner H. Clark of Onsted MI.

Information sourced from "Chipmunk" The Poor Man's Spitfire by Shields, Brown, Conclaves and Blievers and "Chipmunk" The First Forty Years by Bill Fisher

Best ...

Coff.

[Dora-9]

India 42 - (hopefully helpful) PM sent..

Cheers!

[xtp]

GINFO G-BHCW gives UK civil owners.

GINFO Registration History | Aircraft Register | Operations and Safety

[Mandator]

Bit of a Spoonerism there xtp. G-BCHW:

GINFO Search Results | Aircraft Register | Operations and Safety

[xtp]

There was a time when my two-finger typing was coordinated!

Try this one instead.

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-BCHW.pdf

[lsh]

Has anyone got a pdf of the Aircrew Manual & FRC's that they could send me please?
(Have got the "Pilots Notes" reproduction.)
Hoping to buy a share in one, and would like to read-up on it.

Many thanks,

lsh

[India Four Two]

Pilot's Notes

lsh (and anyone else who is interested),

Download my zip file from here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6cqr4gswxr...pmunk-Docs.zip

Note: You can ignore and close the popup inviting you to sign up for Dropbox

It contains the following:

1. DH CANADA CHIPMUNK DHC-1 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL 1950 .PDF
2. RAF PILOT'S NOTES FOR CHIPMUNK T10 A.P. 4308A-P.N. February 1950.PDF
3. RCAF PILOTS OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS CHIPMUNK EO 05-10B-1 15 APR 1958.pdf
4. DH Canada Chipmunk DHC-1B-2 Flight Manual 1 Aug 1957.PDF
5. RAF PILOT'S NOTES CHIPMUNK T. Mk. 10 A.P.4308A-P.N. 3rd Edition June 1966.PDF
6. CAF AIRCRAFT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS CHIPMUNK EO 05-10B-1 12 DEC 1968.PDF
8. WILTSHIRE SCHOOL OF FLYING LTD. PILOTS NOTES CHIPMUNK 10.pdf
9. CHIPMUNK CHECKLIST.pdf
10. DHC-1B FAA TC A26nm.pdf

NB Numbering error on my part. 8, 9 and 10 should have been 7,8 and 9

lsh,
Item 5 is the one you want. I don't have any FRCs, but I would like a pdf if one is available.

[Dora-9]

WD353 - more!

I've turned up another photo of WD353. This aircraft was with 2 FTS Church Fenton from 22.9.1969 to 14.5.1974 - since these dates encompass 2 FTS' entire existence it would suggest that this was an ex PFS aircraft.

Note that, as with all 2 FTS Chipmunks, she wore the first permutation of the Red/White/Light Grey scheme (red lower fuselage, wingtips, tailplanes, wing leading edges and wingroot fairings).

"39" in the background is WK643.

[India Four Two]

it would suggest that this was an ex PFS aircraft.

Dora-9,

I don't think so. My last flights with UBAS were at a Summer Camp at Marham in July 1969, and I'm pretty sure that WD353 was still part of the fleet then.

[lsh]

"lsh (and anyone else who is interested),

Download my zip file from here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6cqr4gswxr...pmunk-Docs.zip

Note: You can ignore and close the popup inviting you to sign up for Dropbox"


Many thanks, much appreciated, willdo.

lsh

[CoffmanStarter]

Humm ... I'm not convinced that's a legitimate UK Mil Chipmunk scheme ... I could be wrong

Update ...

That's strange ... The original post asking for help has disappeared ?

Here is the URL originally posted ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-1940...item463dbf20ef

[Dora-9]

Now here's an odd one!

Recently I purchased this photo from the NA3T site - it shows very unusual makings for an RAF Chipmunk.

There was no information as to when and where, the aircraft simply being identified as "Duxford Station Flight". With the kind assistance of Rod Brown (UK Chipmunk guru) and Geoff Ambrose (Air Britain's Chipmunk expert) I can now say that WZ870 was indeed with the Duxford Station Flight when photographed at the 1958 Bassingourn Battle of Britain Day. Examination of the background reveals a 2 Sqn Swift FR5 (serial not visible; 2 Sqn had two aircraft that carried an "S" code), an identified Canberra while "619" was a Vautour IIB. Turning back to the Chipmunk, note too that the usually black stencils (seen here on the rudder/fin/fwd fuselage/cowl side) have been re-painted in what appears to be the nose colour.

So what colour was the nose trim? My initial reaction, since it seemed tonally identical to the fuselage band, was that it was yellow. However, research has turned up two spotter's reports on the Chipmunk at Bassingbourn stating that it was "wearing blue training bands" and "..in Cranwell T-bands". I should add that during WZ870's relatively short career (1953 to 1959) it served with various Station Flights (virtually all Fighter Command airfields) and never with the RAFC Cranwell.

So it's back to that colour question - does anyone have any thoughts or information please?

[CoffmanStarter]

Good morning Dora-9

That is certainly a unique scheme for a serving UK Mil Chipmunk. What's particularly interesting is that the usual 'Anti-Dazzle Black', forward of the front cockpit windshield, which I believe was introduced early on as a Flight Safety measure, has been overpainted with the mysterious colour

I did also think at first glance that the lower section of the engine cowl, below the 'cheat line', might be a different colour to that of the fuselage. Likewise the rudder ... but that might just be the position of the sun/highlighting ?

I note she is minus Spinning Strakes and is a Glider Tower ...

Hopefully someone will be able to help

Best ...

Coff.

PS. As a pure guess ... could the colour be white/duck-egg blue (yes ... its a B&W pic Coff !) ...

[Wander00]

From ASN


1 Nov 59 Struck the runway lights on take off from Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and tipped over during the subsequent emergency landing.

Deemed damaged beyond economic repair, and struck off charge as Cat.5(gi). Allocated to ground instruction as 7624M.