WD 345
 

I just met the current owner of DHC Chipmunk WD 345 at the Oceana airshow. The 'Chippy' is in beautiful condition and I'll post a few pics of her when I get round to it.

Just wondered if anyone had any time in her and/or any history for current owner?

Yes, 50+ hours when it was a University of London Air Squadron aircraft.
First flight 10 February 1971.
Last flight 3 November 1972.

WD345 was delivered to the RAF in February 1951 and was a ULAS aircraft from the late 1960s until the early 1970s.
I have a recollection that it was a Nottingham UAS aircraft at some stage but can't now be sure if that was before or after ULAS. (I think before.)

BEagle also has many hours in WD345 - we had the same QFI for a time.
He was on the Squadron for longer than me and will probably know more about what happened to the aircraft after ULAS.

I look forward to seeing your photographs.

FL

Ah - good old WD345! First flew the aircraft in 1969/70 and last in 1972/3 - I need to check my log book for the details.

Glad to hear that the aircraft is in such good condition - I will have to see whether I've got any photos from my ULAS days with FL and others.

I recall one trip - we had to take another Chipmunk down to RAF West Malling for servicing and bring '345 back. A rare opportunity for a navex with my QFI.

Sadly, West Malling like most other aerodromes I visited during my time as a UAS student is no longer in existence; others have been squaddified or are now civvy aerodromes. Thorney Island, Tangmere, Watton, Newton, Abingdon, Andover, White Waltham - all had military flying back then.

As did St.Mawgan and Chivenor during my QFI time with ULAS 25 years later.....:(

Hi googled the reg and came up with quite a few photos that appear to be freely available on line

https://www.google.co.uk/search?safe...2F%3B550%3B377

I forgot to add that she now wears N5UK as her US registration atop the fin, although still retains her RAF colours. I believe I may have flown her at Newton in the late 70's but I'll have to check that.

On detachment, I flew it back to Church Fenton to do a bit of admin. Had to stop on the way back to ease springs on account of lunchtime refreshment at Church Fenton! Cdt Plt McQuillan was my only customer on this aircraft - Ex 19 which I think was IF.

It was one of the four-ship put up c. 1971 by ULAS and photographed air-to-air by "Air Visual', one picture of which was subsequently published in Aeroplane Monthly. I have some of the shots.
Only flew WD 345 a couple of times myself ,Oct 31 '71 Solo and Sep 21 72 on an IF continuity trip, before poking off back to the Towers.

WD345 DHC-1 Chipmunk
 

Hello. This is my first attempt to communicate on PPRuNe as I am very new to it. I am the current owner/caretaker of DHC-1 Chipmunk WD345 here in the US. I see from your post that WD345 was featured in a photo of a four-ship in Aeroplane magazine several years back. Would you happen to know the date/issue of that magazine? I'd love to get a copy of that photo. Also, I'm not familiar with the acronyms...what is ULAS and FI? Many thanks for your help.

Flypast's publisher has just taken over Aeroplane, their Website and forums are here

Historic Aviation

I don't know if it was one of the issues listed here

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ae...azine+chipmunk

.

- I plump for 'before' since it does not figure in my 1965 logbook.

Hello DH Dan and welcome to PPRuNe. To answer your questions, first, 'ULAS' is the University of London Air Squadron.

Second, FI? Perhaps you mean 'IF' in Post 6 above, this is Instrument Flying. 'FI' usually stands for Fatigue Index, a measure of the fatigue life consumed

DHDan

FL may refer to Flying Lawyer in the post above.

DHDan,


I'm the guy you met at Oceana. I just checked my log book and I flew your beast in August 1980 from RAF Newton (near Nottingham).

R

Rich