The "Chipmunk"
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The de Havilland DHC-1 "Chipmunk" was designed and then manufactured first in
Canada and subsequently in greater numbers in England. The first test flight
(prototype CF-DIO-X) was flown from the de Havilland plant at Downsview,
Ontario on May 22, 1946.
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There were 217 Chipmunks produced in
Canada and 1000 manufactured in England. In addition, 66 were made under
licence in the first Canadian designed aircraft ever to be manufactured
offshore. Most of the Canadian production went to the RCAF in two lots;
47 up to 1952 and another 60 in 1956. (CF-RRI was manufactured in 1951).
Only 5 were sold in Canada outside the RCAF, but many were exported to Egypt,
India and Thailand. Most of the English production went to the RAF, and later
to the RN and the Army, but significant numbers of the English and
Portuguese production were exported to many other countries.
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The Chipmunk quickly became the most pilot-popular military and civilian
training aircraft ever made - a delight on the controls and fully aerobatic. It has
been in continuous military service as a basic and advanced training aircraft
for longer (48 years) and in more countries (over 60) than any other aircraft
in the history of aviation! Thousands of budding military pilots did their
first solo in the Chipmunk, including the Princes Philip, Charles and Andrew.
Chipmunks won the King's Cup Air Race in 1953, 1966 and in 1973. Art Scholl
competed in the World Aerobatic Championships with a modified Chipmunk in 1966,
1968 and 1969. In addition to pilot training, Chipmunks have been used for
artillery observation, military security patrols, and in glider schools as a
tow plane. The Chipmunk has been flown on skis designed by de Havilland, and
was fully aerobatic in this configuration. Floats were designed for the
aircraft, but there is no record of a Chipmunk flying on floats.The RCAF disposed of some of its Chipmunks in 1964 and all were retired by 1971. The RAF, however, retired the Chipmunk from its pilot training programme only in 1997, after more than forty eight years of continuous service! The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, in fact, will continue to operate two Chipmunks for the foreseeable future to train its Spitfire pilots. In 1997 the RAF, in a retirement salute to this remarkable aircraft, flew two of its Chipmunks around the world, eastbound over Russia, Canada and the North Atlantic in Exercise Northern Venture. There were no delays due to aircraft problems. The expedition included a special visit and celebration at the de Havilland plant in Downsview. Of the total production of 1283 Chipmunks it is estimated that about 500 survive world-wide and that most of these are flying, or are flyable. Unfortunately, of the 217 Canadian Chipmunks, only 31 remain registered in Canada and perhaps 20 of these are at least periodically flying. At the time of this writing CF-RRI is the only commercially registered and operated Chipmunk in Canada. There are differences between the Canadian and British Chipmunks and in both there are several model numbers of the aircraft, and of its de Havilland (Rolls Royce) Gypsy Major engine. Over the years there have been numerous minor modifications to the airframe and the engine - and to the operating instructions and recommendations. These various, but sometimes outdated documents, all are of interest and use to Chipmunk enthusiasts but care must be taken not to apply incorrect information in operating the aircraft. Air Britain has recently issued a new hardcover book titled: Chipmunk - The First Fifty Years by Fisher, Brown and Rothermel. This is a valuable addition to the library of anyone seriously interested in the Chipmunk because it tracks every airframe made, has lots of photos and tidbits of information not easily found elsewhere. Another interesting book for Chipmunk fans (describes the development and production of the Chipmunk) and all aviation enthusiasts is The de Havilland Canada Story by Fred Hotson. Although this book is out of print a new edition by Larry Milberry and Fred Hotson is expected to be available in June 1998 and will include an expanded section on the Chipmunk. | ||