Chipmunk EGNW (Wickenby)
Just checked my logbook - flew WD390 on 23rd May 1983 while going through Flying Selection Squadron at Swinderby, immediately after passing out of Cranwell. Only did the one trip in it, "Test 1" according to my logbook. Very vague memories of the trip, but still remember the instructor telling me I'd passed.
Looks in great condition - recall all the Chipmunks on FSS as being a bit more "lived in" at the time.
I still vividly recall my first take off in a Chipmunk. The purpose of FSS was to assess those selected for pilot training at Church Fenton or Linton, to see if they had the aptitude to go onto jets (JP 3s).
I had never flown before, so after a brief groundschool, went off for my first trip. The instructor just let me get on with the take off. It went pear shaped pretty quickly, and I was soon veering across the runway to the right, not having given it enough left rudder, heading towards a small hut I seem to recall. Just before we hit the grass, I managed to haul her off the ground.
I still don't know if the instructor was sitting in the back, as scared as me, or was calmly letting me make every handling mistake known to man during my first take off on my first flight! However, after that, I never had another problem with take offs.
Now landing the bugg*er without a ground loop . . .
Looks in great condition - recall all the Chipmunks on FSS as being a bit more "lived in" at the time.
I still vividly recall my first take off in a Chipmunk. The purpose of FSS was to assess those selected for pilot training at Church Fenton or Linton, to see if they had the aptitude to go onto jets (JP 3s).
I had never flown before, so after a brief groundschool, went off for my first trip. The instructor just let me get on with the take off. It went pear shaped pretty quickly, and I was soon veering across the runway to the right, not having given it enough left rudder, heading towards a small hut I seem to recall. Just before we hit the grass, I managed to haul her off the ground.
I still don't know if the instructor was sitting in the back, as scared as me, or was calmly letting me make every handling mistake known to man during my first take off on my first flight! However, after that, I never had another problem with take offs.
Now landing the bugg*er without a ground loop . . .
Last edited by Hamish 123; 3rd Apr 2009 at 10:26. Reason: grammar
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WD390's Manners
Hamish123
That Chipmunk memory made me smile.
I have to say though, in comparison, WD390 appears somewhat tamed in civilian life these days.
Maybe she learned a trick or two during the 40 years and 11,000 hours at the hands of ab initio, UAS and AEF students.
That Chipmunk memory made me smile.
I have to say though, in comparison, WD390 appears somewhat tamed in civilian life these days.
Maybe she learned a trick or two during the 40 years and 11,000 hours at the hands of ab initio, UAS and AEF students.
I do know my old (shared) Chipmunk lives up there. G-AORW.
I remember flying in a Chipmunk from Nottingham as a ppl student, and the instructor was you! It was a spin detail and we went to 6000'
7of9,
Very nice pictures. Made me very nostalgic, but I thought Binbrook looked very sad. When I was there on a UBAS summer camp, the pan was filled with 5 Squadron's Lightning F6s, not cars.
I never flew WD390, but spent many hours in WD292, which I see is also still around.
Very nice pictures. Made me very nostalgic, but I thought Binbrook looked very sad. When I was there on a UBAS summer camp, the pan was filled with 5 Squadron's Lightning F6s, not cars.
I never flew WD390, but spent many hours in WD292, which I see is also still around.
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Very nice photos. Aircraft looks on top notch condition. Just back from 50 minutes in the Felthorpe Chippy over east Norfolk with a few low (> 500' !) passes over my house on a lovely spring afternoon with wife and rug rats waving insanely in the garden. Life doesn't get much better 
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Just back from 50 minutes in the Felthorpe Chippy over east Norfolk
Life doesn't get much better
There's a picture of the Felthorpe Chippy here: Gallery
Cheers,
WW
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Here's ours at Sleap (she lives at EGGP). Been flying her for 30 years now - never found a nicer aeroplane to fly than the Chippy.
And just going back to the original poster's pics..... a tad more left rudder needed in the climb here....
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309028.jpg
SSD
And just going back to the original poster's pics..... a tad more left rudder needed in the climb here....
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309028.jpg
SSD
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Rudder
SSD,
I'll offer transient condition, following a very low pass and just about to enter a steep banked climbing RH turn to make the return pass and being helped round the corner by a little bottom rudder...........or maybe just sloppy flying!!
BTW, you didn't spot the US turn needle!
I'll offer transient condition, following a very low pass and just about to enter a steep banked climbing RH turn to make the return pass and being helped round the corner by a little bottom rudder...........or maybe just sloppy flying!!
BTW, you didn't spot the US turn needle!
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Hi WW thought I might see you yesterday but had to get home and polish myself up for the evening. Calling the right runway when I flew was difficult to say the least. I eventually decided on 34 where upon the wind backed so returned on 23. Hopefully it was a bit calmer when you went off. Would very much like to fly loose formation at some point with the Hornet and perhaps the Moth as well ? Preferably with a camera ship - I need one or two good flying photos for the office wall - Mrs J not too happy at having alot on the living room wall ... can't understand why 
? Preferably with a camera ship - I need one or two good flying photos for the office wall - Mrs J not too happy at having alot on the living room wall ... can't understand why
Thread Starter
Thanks for the comments.
I have now put the rest of the photo's of this flight on my site.
Flying the Chipmunk :: Fotopic.Net
Thanks for looking.
Trev
I have now put the rest of the photo's of this flight on my site.
Flying the Chipmunk :: Fotopic.Net
Thanks for looking.
Trev
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Well this certainly brought back memories.
N.B. Exaviator, (anson) and I attended the same school, he some ten years before I.
I joined the Royal Navy in 1972 as a specialist in aviation on a short career commission. During my time at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth I underwent the baptism of fire that all naval aviators of that time were subjected to.
Through June and July of 1972 I was given 12 hours 35 minutes on Chipmunks operated out of Roborough, Plymouth Airport, by way of an assessment of my suitability for the role as a naval aviator.
My instructors, Lt Cdr Pugh, Sq Ldr Greenhow and Lt Cdr Legat, rip all of them, deemed me capable of continuing training and I went on to Church Fenton. Not before Lt Cdr Pugh told me that "if I had any other way of earning a living, that i should consider taking that course".
Some airframe numbers from my log book of flights from Roborough, WP856, WK608, WK517, WP759, WD374 and WK634.
Church Fenton, or Royal Naval Elementary Flight Training School as it was then, was full a flight of over 20 Chipmunks. The instructors were a mixed bag of drivers from the Navy and the Airforce. My Instructor Lt Jennings was a Buccaneer man by trade, but I flew with others that were Lightning, Jaguar, Phantom and Vulcan drivers.
Some airframe numbers from my log book of flight from CF. WD363, WP831, WG306, WK628, WD371, WP924, WG348, WZ858, WD292, WG470 and on. I don’t recall a favourite, all I can remember is the way my instructors could coax amazing antics from such an aircraft.
Only one flight stands out in my recall, first solo spinning 14th June 1973, as I entered the manoeuvre a sharp clang from the back scared me to death. I returned to Rufforth only to be told that someone had left something in that little cubby hole at the back of the cockpit. It was this clanging around that had such an effect on me. I was simply told to go and repeat the exercise.
Rufforth, near York, was used as a satellite in those days. Probably a building site by now.
From here I went on to train on helicopters at Royal naval Air Station Culdrose, flying Hiller 12E and Whirlwind Mk7, but the Chipmunk was in my blood.
In 1977 I was posted to 705 Naval Air Squadron as an Instructor flying the Gazelle. During the weekends I flew as tug pilot for the Royal Navy Gliding School / Club based at Culdrose.
The tug was designated 586, I don’t know the airframe number, but I spent many many pleasant hours going up round and down at the behest of the gliding fraternity, didn’t even stop for lunch in those days, fish and chips on ones lap whilst working was common.
During my time in the Navy I mainly flew Wessex V but in a 25 year career in helicopters I flew over 20 types in many roles, from instruction to troop transport, air sea rescue, general charter, film work, police and air ambulance. Great times.
Now retired, I would really like to have another go at the Chipmunk, any offers?
Tony H
N.B. Exaviator, (anson) and I attended the same school, he some ten years before I.
I joined the Royal Navy in 1972 as a specialist in aviation on a short career commission. During my time at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth I underwent the baptism of fire that all naval aviators of that time were subjected to.
Through June and July of 1972 I was given 12 hours 35 minutes on Chipmunks operated out of Roborough, Plymouth Airport, by way of an assessment of my suitability for the role as a naval aviator.
My instructors, Lt Cdr Pugh, Sq Ldr Greenhow and Lt Cdr Legat, rip all of them, deemed me capable of continuing training and I went on to Church Fenton. Not before Lt Cdr Pugh told me that "if I had any other way of earning a living, that i should consider taking that course".
Some airframe numbers from my log book of flights from Roborough, WP856, WK608, WK517, WP759, WD374 and WK634.
Church Fenton, or Royal Naval Elementary Flight Training School as it was then, was full a flight of over 20 Chipmunks. The instructors were a mixed bag of drivers from the Navy and the Airforce. My Instructor Lt Jennings was a Buccaneer man by trade, but I flew with others that were Lightning, Jaguar, Phantom and Vulcan drivers.
Some airframe numbers from my log book of flight from CF. WD363, WP831, WG306, WK628, WD371, WP924, WG348, WZ858, WD292, WG470 and on. I don’t recall a favourite, all I can remember is the way my instructors could coax amazing antics from such an aircraft.
Only one flight stands out in my recall, first solo spinning 14th June 1973, as I entered the manoeuvre a sharp clang from the back scared me to death. I returned to Rufforth only to be told that someone had left something in that little cubby hole at the back of the cockpit. It was this clanging around that had such an effect on me. I was simply told to go and repeat the exercise.
Rufforth, near York, was used as a satellite in those days. Probably a building site by now.
From here I went on to train on helicopters at Royal naval Air Station Culdrose, flying Hiller 12E and Whirlwind Mk7, but the Chipmunk was in my blood.
In 1977 I was posted to 705 Naval Air Squadron as an Instructor flying the Gazelle. During the weekends I flew as tug pilot for the Royal Navy Gliding School / Club based at Culdrose.
The tug was designated 586, I don’t know the airframe number, but I spent many many pleasant hours going up round and down at the behest of the gliding fraternity, didn’t even stop for lunch in those days, fish and chips on ones lap whilst working was common.
During my time in the Navy I mainly flew Wessex V but in a 25 year career in helicopters I flew over 20 types in many roles, from instruction to troop transport, air sea rescue, general charter, film work, police and air ambulance. Great times.
Now retired, I would really like to have another go at the Chipmunk, any offers?
Tony H
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Some airframe numbers from my log book of flights from Roborough, WP856, WK608, WK517, WP759, WD374 and WK634
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A bit OT RNHF but what's the score for flying into Yeovilton to visit the museum? I have crown indemnity on the aircraft.
If it is a weekend or outside normal operating hours this won't be possible I'm afraid as only Yeovilton Flying Club and Heron Gliding Club are permitted to operate when the airfield is closed.
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Some great photos there and they brought back some fond memories of my first solo flight in Sherwood Flying club's Chipmunk G-BDBP. If I remember rightly the hourly rate was only £13 ph which seemed like a lot of money at the time.