DH Chipmunk?
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: UK
Low n' slow - check your private mail. I must warn you that buying a Chippy is one thing, keeping it in the air is another thing with many maintainace issues, fatigue life, TNS's, difficulty with certain spares, ageing and by todays standards thirsty engines. Having said that what a dream to fly - love flying mine!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
one of the big things youll find hard to find is a fairey reed prop, the alternative is a hoffman which isnt as good. Brake unit is quite complex and expensive plus you have X-rays to contend with as well as its oil and fuel burn etc. Just think though, it could be worse, it could be a spitfire!!
Its a damn good aircraft with fantastic lines and well harmonised controls, I just love it
Its a damn good aircraft with fantastic lines and well harmonised controls, I just love it
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 2
From: UK
Our's has a Hoffman prop. Being lighter than the metal Fairey Reed prop it isn't as good a 'fly wheel' for the engine, so it's not as smooth as a metal proped Chippy (and they are not exactly smooth!). And for aeros, with less gyroscopic effect, it can be an advantage.
We swapped our brakes years ago for 'modern' ones off a Cherry tree or Cessna or sumfink similar. They are then pretty trouble free. The piston ring mod makes a huge difference to oil consumption, and the spark plug mod enables use of more readily-available and more reliable modern plugs.
They are high maintenance aeroplanes and parts can be expensive and hard to source. But when you fly it, it is all more than worth it!
Actually, you don't fly it. You strap in on like a pair of wings and become part of it. I've flown a few aeroplanes, and no other comes close in that respect. People who have flown Spitfires say they are like that, but unfortunatly I wouldn't know.
SSD
We swapped our brakes years ago for 'modern' ones off a Cherry tree or Cessna or sumfink similar. They are then pretty trouble free. The piston ring mod makes a huge difference to oil consumption, and the spark plug mod enables use of more readily-available and more reliable modern plugs.
They are high maintenance aeroplanes and parts can be expensive and hard to source. But when you fly it, it is all more than worth it!
Actually, you don't fly it. You strap in on like a pair of wings and become part of it. I've flown a few aeroplanes, and no other comes close in that respect. People who have flown Spitfires say they are like that, but unfortunatly I wouldn't know.
SSD
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
SSD
I think weve had the ring mod as I havent noticed as much oil on the underside as in previous trips. One mod Id love to see is the mod for night flight (painting the fuel gauges with luminous paint). I bet she'd be great to fly a night . I think the brake mod is to Clevelands which is A:simpler + B:cheaper
all we need to accompany the pics is the noise (and the smell)
I think weve had the ring mod as I havent noticed as much oil on the underside as in previous trips. One mod Id love to see is the mod for night flight (painting the fuel gauges with luminous paint). I bet she'd be great to fly a night . I think the brake mod is to Clevelands which is A:simpler + B:cheaper
all we need to accompany the pics is the noise (and the smell)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: England
I did my night rating in the Chippy. Wonderful memories of flying around Lincolnshire in the dark, in a snow storm with the ATC at Waddington saying "Just WHAT type of aircraft did you say?"!!
My other recollections are that the landing light illuminates the back of the prop and little else... wheeler landings are preferable as the runway lights disappear very quickly in a three-pointer.
One other thing - our Chippy was equipped with a switch in the back seat that killed the lighting in the front. I was foolish enough to point this out to my instructor...DOH!
My other recollections are that the landing light illuminates the back of the prop and little else... wheeler landings are preferable as the runway lights disappear very quickly in a three-pointer.
One other thing - our Chippy was equipped with a switch in the back seat that killed the lighting in the front. I was foolish enough to point this out to my instructor...DOH!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Since PPRuNe Radar has cut-and-pasted those pictures of G-AORW off our website (!!!), I suppose I have a right to plug it, especially as the ugly mug in the front cockpit belongs to yours truly!
www.skylarkaviation.co.uk
Seriously though, the Chipmunk is a beautiful aircraft to fly. Who cares if it's cold and draughty: the controls are light and crisp, the noise is wonderful, and the smell... well you have to experience it to appreciate it.
Anyone who hasn't experienced these rare delights is welcome to come to Prestwick and try it for themselves.
www.skylarkaviation.co.uk
Seriously though, the Chipmunk is a beautiful aircraft to fly. Who cares if it's cold and draughty: the controls are light and crisp, the noise is wonderful, and the smell... well you have to experience it to appreciate it.
Anyone who hasn't experienced these rare delights is welcome to come to Prestwick and try it for themselves.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk
Waldo
Night rating - Chipmunk. What did you have to do to get it cleared for night flight?, or did the machine have a conversion for showing fuel content. My understanding is that the DHC1 is cleared day only as the fuel guages (builti into the wing tanks are not illuminated and a torch is not part of the original aircrfat spec!.
Night rating - Chipmunk. What did you have to do to get it cleared for night flight?, or did the machine have a conversion for showing fuel content. My understanding is that the DHC1 is cleared day only as the fuel guages (builti into the wing tanks are not illuminated and a torch is not part of the original aircrfat spec!.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Mars or was it Venus
Yup shares avail in MT, All mods done, Hoffman prop,low hour engine, Cleveland brake conversion being fitted as soon as the postman delivers it to me!
3 in group at present, licenced engineer, doctor and professional pilot so most maintance done in house to keep costs down.
3 in group at present, licenced engineer, doctor and professional pilot so most maintance done in house to keep costs down.
