Happy 75th to the Chippie
 

Happy 75th Birthday to the iconic DeHavilland Chipmunk as on this day May 22nd 1946 it flew for the first time anyhow last weekend we attended Spies and Intrigue at Old Warden and saw BBMF Chippie.


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First aircraft I ever flew in as a young Air Cadet in 1985 was in WP805 of 6 AEF Abingdon. Later when posted as a young AATC to Abingdon, managed to bag a few more flights. Just returned from an enjoyable day at the birthday fly-in at Old Warden. Was hoping to see WP805, but was not to be on this occasion.

Steve

Also flew in one as an Air Cadet. Still remember waddling out to the aircraft feeling like a trussed up Turkey in that seat parachute😳.

Yup, same here ... but an important life moment for a youngster!

First ever flight ... 13/3/59 ... WP981 at White Waltham, CCF AE Day.

Ooh, amazing!!

I remember nearly castrating myself with the parachute harness when I swung my leg over the side of the cockpit on my first AEF chipmunk flight. Noisy and cold (mid-winter) I loved every second, and after a demonstration had me flying loops. 8000 hours flying, 30 + types and 30 years later, I still remember that Chipmunk flight clearly.

Lovely lovely aeroplanes which always bring a smile.

First flight in one was 1994, St Mawgan, detached AEF. PIlot recognised my name because, as a master pilot in 1965, he had been my Dad's QFI.

Simply the most enjoyable fixed wing aircraft I have ever flown.
The most enjoyable rotary wing type was the Skeeter.
Thank you, Army Air Corps.

Airfix are bringing out a new 1/48 scale kit. I have one on order. I confess to probably having spent more time looking at the back end of one than sitting in them but I have had several enjoyable trips. We had one at Cosford which was much improved by the Lycoming conversion while I was there. It meant going out over the trees rather than between them. Happy Birthday.:ok:

I couldn't have said it better!

+1
Who wouldn't want to fly a Spitfire, even if it's the poor mans version, it was said the two had similar handling. Soloed in WB622 after it had been demobbed, loved every minute of the thirty or so hours.

Friend of mine sent me a photo of an RCAF Chipmunk now owned by the son of a squadron mate of mine from the early sixties. I have the fin number of the aircraft in my logbook from my initial training in late 1958.
It looks in beautiful condition, (and my squadron mate looks in pretty good shape too!).
It would be really neat to get a ride in it and have the same aircraft in my logbook some 60 + years later.

Don't want to be one up but my first flight was in a Chippy on Dec17 1956 in UM 054 at Centralia Ontario. Went solo on Jan 8. I thought it was a pretty cool machine too and better looking with its bubble canopy than the UK version although I subsequently flew that rather more than the Canadian one. Both were great fun to fly.
'

'981 was still going strong on ULAS at WW in the early 70's

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Chipmunk 75th.
 

Gentlemen,

A couple of shots taken at Old Warden on the 22nd.May, 2021. 16 ship formation led by Robert Miller. I think they did the aeroplane proud, don't you ?

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© Aeronut, I think...... Iain ?
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© Neil Kirby

Fond memory of flying this one

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It was certainly a great day yesterday, and the weather played ball as well. I counted 35 Chipmunks on the ground in the end.

Way back in 1952 RAF Heany reequipped with Chipmunks to replace its Tiger Moths. About a year later the station was closed and all the aircraft were either scrapped or sold. Byers from as far as Australia came to bid on Chipmunks of varying age including some still in their transport crates.

I regard myself as being incredibly lucky to have ammased well over 500 hours flying Gypsy & Lyncoming powered Chipmunks, I loved every second in them & miss the experience every day now. Thank you DH. R2