Chipmunk EGNW (Wickenby)
 

On Sunday 29/03/09 i was invited to have a flight in a DH Chipmunk EX RAF WD 390 Reg G-BWNK by Stewart Smith at Wickenby (EGNW) near Market Rasen Lincs.
The weather was Brilliant, wall to wall sunshine.
I was able to sit in the front seat which was a bonus as i wanted to take photo's, i was also allowed to fly the chipmunk in between taking the photo's.
We took off from Wickenby at around 11.40am & climbed to about 1500 feet, headed towards EX RAF Binbrook did a fly around the airfield so i could take photo's then headed off to the west towards Caenby Corner then turned south flew past Faldingworth then joined the circuit at Wickenby to land at 12.20pm.
What a nice plane to fly!!! I really enjoyed it & thanks to Stewart for allowing me a trip in this brilliant aircraft.

Here are some of the photo's i took of the flight & also of Mark Whitnall having his check ride & solo flight.

1
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309005.jpg

2
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309009.jpg

3
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309011.jpg

4
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309013.jpg

5
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309028.jpg

6
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309039.jpg

7
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309046.jpg

8
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309048.jpg

9
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309052.jpg

10
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309094.jpg

11
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309144.jpg

12
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309183.jpg

13
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309185.jpg

14
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309266.jpg

15
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...y290309361.jpg


Wickenby is a nice & active airfield with very friendly club members.

Hope you like my selection.

Cheers Trev

Great pictures of a lovely little aircraft on a perfect flying day - thanks!

That suction gauge is a well-engineered modification - it looks almost original!

I can almost smell the petrol, exhaust, old electrics and other things which give the Chippy its familiar, friendly aroma.....:)

See from an old photo that I flew WD390 as a CCF RAF cadet in the late 1970s.

Will have to check my old logbooks when I'm next in UK. Must have been taken at a Summer camp at RAF Turnhouse, Cosford, Waddington or Wyton.

Didn't expect to see it again. :ok:

Excellent pics :ok:,what camera took those ?

Chipmunk
 

7 of 9:

Great pictures and a great aircraft. A Chipmunk is one of the best to fly, good controls and very responsive.

Well done

Tmb

Sony A350 :ok:

CCF Late '70s
 

er340790

Extract below from the movement cards of WD390 covering this period might ring a bell.

I did recently appeal for any old pictures of our a/c, sadly, no joy. If you could add any detail to the history, I would be much obliged.


1969 Oct Allocated Manchester UAS
1970 Sept Manchester UAS
1974 July NEA 5MU
1979 Aug Allocated FSS Swinderby
1980 Oct 5MU
1981 Feb FSS Swinderby

S

Fantastic Photos on a lovely day in Lincolnshire. I have only visited Wickenby once (as a driver) and it was a lovely airfield and I hope that it is picking up for movements etc. Unfortunately my old place (where I used to work) Sturgate seems to be stagnating even though it has so much to offer. Still glad that GA is getting something out of Lincoln and its surrondings, there are some lovely views certainly and I am glad to have had the pleasure to see them from the air.

WD390
 

Superb photographs. Checked my log book to discover that I flew WD390 almost forty years ago. Twice in April and again in May 1969 when it was based with the Primary Flying Squadron at RAF Church Fenton. My instructor for the first two flights in April was a Flying Officer Dai H-H.

Charles Sierra As airborne_artist stated a sony A350 14.5 mpix camera.

Many thanks for the comments & i am glad i managed to jog some fond memories for some of you.

That was the first time i had flown in a Chipmunk & hope it wasn't my last, i have flown in many different types before although i don't have my PPL yet but that's now in the pipeline. What a joy to fly the Chipmunk & thanks to Studefather for the opportunity.

Wickenby is a nice friendly airfield with nice members there.

Museum is a good look around upstairs in the control tower too.

Regards Trev:ok::ok::ok:

Great pics and a great a/c - did my first solo in a DHC 1 in 1968 from ema - it's still my favourite light a/c to fly.

Remember my dad taking me flying in the Chipmunk when I was about ten years old and he showed me some aerobatics. He said to me "I'll show you the best stall turn in the Midlands"...and IMHO it was! Also recall climbing VMC on top with him and calling for a training fix on 121.5 sometime in the early 1960s from RAF Newton - Happy Days!

Well Trev, you certainly brought back memories for me. I split my basic wings training between the DH82 Tigermoth and the DHC-1 Chipmunk back in 1959. Two delightful aircraft to fly, particularly on a fine day when the air was smooth.

Some forty years and many flight hours later a very generous chap loaned me his Chippy being over impressed by my then current credentials. (B-747 Check Pilot for a major airline.)

Not wanting to risk his pride and joy I roped in another pilot current on type to keep an eye on me and off we went. I found that not only did I still remember the Chippy's handling characteristics but it was as much a joy to fly then as it was forty years earlier.

:ok::ok::ok:

WD390 Church Fenton
 

Spekesoftly,

Herewith the full 9 yards from WD390's movement cards, less time at various MUs and Marshalls, confirming AOTS RFS duties at Church Fenton in the late '60s.

Also some recent pictures of WD390 re-acquaintance with old surroundings on Private Flying Forum thread "Church Fenton 21/03/09".

1951 April Delivered 2BFTS
1953 Jan Allocated 5RFS
1955 March Allocated 22 Group Comms Flt.
1957 June 22 Group Comms Flt.
1960 March Allocated Tech College Henlow
1964 Aug Allocated RAF South Cerney
1965 March Allocated Bristol UAS
May Allocated 2 AEF
June Allocated 1 AEF
Aug Allocated ITS South Cerney
1967 Jan name chge Aircrew Officer Training School
Jan name chge RFS (Church Fenton) AOTS
1969 Oct Allocated Manchester UAS
1970 July Disposal Ac RDS/60MU
Sept Manchester UAS
1979 Aug Allocated FSS Swinderby
1981 Feb FSS Swinderby
1984 Nov Allocated 9 AEF Finningley
Dec 9 AEF Finningley
July 9 AEF Finningley
Aug 9 AEF Finningley
1992 approx Disposal Ac
1995 sold at sale RAF Newton

Wow.....what a fantastic set of pics of what has to be one of the best aircraft arounds..well except an Auster of course!!!:yuk:

Thanks for sharing the great day with us

Link to said Church Fenton photo's;

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...1-03-09-a.html

Trev:ok::ok::ok:

DAi is still flying - he is CFI at Perth and we had our annual chat at the DA Symposium a fortnight ago!

Stik

Happy days indeed.Fond memories of Sherwood Flying Club"s Chippie back in the seventies. Great photos at Wickenby.

Chippie PPL?
 

I last flew the Chipmunk in 1977 having totalled 13 hrs 30 mins solo and 51 hrs 30 mins dual. I found it a delightful aeroplane to fly and I would love to go back to it and obtain a PPL. I have recently had a couple of flights in a Tomahawk but it wasn't as involving as the Chippie.
I have seen posts about existing PPL holders doing a tailwheel conversion but does anyone know if there is anywhere that offers an ab-initio PPL on the Chipmunk?

Chippie Flying
 

MM
You may find they offer that at Prestwick. Sorry no further details...
I do know my old (shared) Chipmunk lives up there. G-AORW.
tth

421
I am not sure on what basis you can argue that Sturgate is stagnating. The dawn patrol in early February attracted 60 visitors, last June's fly-in attracted 156 aircraft over two days and the club has some of the cheapest flying in the country. Eastern Aviation, the maintenance organisation is usually overwhelmed with work and has gone from strength to strength with its new ownership. Perhaps you should pay a visit at the next flyin at the beginning of June and experience how friendly the club is. Its not perfect but the club members put in a great deal of effort to make it a success.