De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

1946

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De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk was designed to succeed de Havilland's classic Tiger Moth biplane trainer. Flying for the first time at Downsview, Toronto on 22 May 1946, the tandem- seat stressed-skin monoplane was the first indigenous design of de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. The prototype, put through its paces by Pat Fillingham from the parent company at Hatfield, was powered by a 108kW de Havilland Gipsy Major 1C. Chipmunks built to the prototype's specification were designated DHC-1B-1, while those with a Gipsy Major 10-3 were designated DHC-1 B-2. Most Canadian-built Chipmunks had a bubble canopy.

Downsview built 218 Chipmunks, the last in 1951. Two were evaluated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down. As a result, the fully-aerobatic Chipmunk was ordered from Hatfield and Chester to Specification 8/48 as an ab initio trainer for the RAF.

The RAF received 735 Chipmunks out of 1,014 manufactured in the UK. The first to wear RAF roundels were flown by the Oxford University Air Squadron from February 1950; thereafter, the type replaced the Tiger Moth with all 17 university air squadrons, as well as equipping many RAF Volunteer Reserve flying schools in the early 1950s. National service pilots underwent their initial training on the 'Chip', which served intermittently at the RAF College, Cranwell. A few Chipmunks of No. 114 Squadron were pressed into service in Cyprus on internal security flights during the troubles of 1958.

Under an agreement concluded between de Havilland and the General Aeronautical Material Workshops (OGMA) of Portugal 60 Chipmunks were licence-manufactured from 1955 for the Portuguese air force, and the type was still being operated by this service until replaced in 1989. Other users included Burma, Ceylon, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, Eire, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand and Uruguay.

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De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

Specification 
 MODELChipmunk T.Mk 10
 ENGINE1 x De Havilland Gipsy 8, 108kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight914 kg2015 lb
  Empty weight646 kg1424 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan10.46 m34 ft 4 in
  Length7.75 m25 ft 5 in
  Height2.13 m7 ft 0 in
  Wing area15.97 m2171.90 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed222 km/h138 mph
  Cruise speed187 km/h116 mph
  Ceiling4815 m15800 ft
  Range451 km280 miles

Comments1-20 21-40
sven, 16.09.2015 01:04

Anyone remember Art Scholl? His sper munk was at Hullavington UK for the world aerobatic championships.

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TEST1, e-mail, 05.10.2020 sven

TEST

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619, e-mail, 21.12.2013 02:09

Chipmunk Folks:

Seeking pictures of the very first three prototypes c /n 001-003. Canadian built. We believe we found s /n 003 deep S.of the border..in Argentina. Other info on the firs 2 will be appreciated.

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Peter Magnusson, e-mail, 29.09.2013 01:54

Ike, or someone else. It's a while since. But if you reed again or someone else Haninge a Chipmunk, flying or project for sale, please mail me on peter.magnusson@avicon.se

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Paul Green, e-mail, 25.08.2013 23:01

We operate two Chipmunks from the former RAF Turweston aerodrome - G-BXDI and G-HFRH. Visitors welcome. We are always on the lookout for additional aircraft to join the fleet (projects included)

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John Coleman, e-mail, 08.06.2013 02:35

If it's Chipmunks you're after come on out to Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton, Ontario airport. we have three of the little beasts and fly one regularly. Flights r sale in it too.

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Miguel Scotti, e-mail, 29.10.2012 16:41

I like this plane, it is beatiful for make in R /C version, whith 6,5 foot of wingspan and 5 or 6 lbs. of weight.
I need hel with plans.
Can anyone lend a hands.
Thank you.

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Ike, e-mail, 22.10.2012 05:44

I own 5 canadian chipmunks, might sell 1

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Ike, e-mail, 22.10.2012 05:42

I own 5 canadian chipmunks, might sell 1

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adam, e-mail, 09.10.2012 03:23

Looking to purchase a chipmunk that is either flying or can be made to fly. Does anyone know of one for sale. Please email cockpit_for_two@hotmail.com...thanks

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Harvey Hamdy, e-mail, 09.02.2012 01:35

I flew them in the early 60s in Egypt when I was training with Egypt Air. Went solo on 10 hours after I fluffed up a landing on 7.5 hours and had to do extra. Dodn't know about side slipping then. It was really a lovely aircraft to fly.

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Rod Brown, e-mail, 16.04.2020 Harvey Hamdy

Harvey, saw your note about flying Chipmunks in Egypt - would be interested to learn more especially if you have photos. Best Rod

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northern expat, e-mail, 07.02.2012 17:33

Just a clean fun delight to fly, if it was built today it would still be one of the best.

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Charles F. Holleman, e-mail, 16.11.2011 23:07

I like your current illustrations much better than the atypical duster, as they represent the "Chipmunks" I know.
The Canadians might like to see one of their bubble canopy ones represented.

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Dave Gillespie, e-mail, 05.10.2020 Charles F. Holleman

G-AKDN is a Canadian built pre-production Chipmunk. serial no. 11 and has the original built up canopy as designed.The big bubble canopy was an RCAF specification and not a in house deHavilland design.

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Ian, e-mail, 26.09.2011 19:27

The first aircraft I ever flew in back in my ATC days.
I wonder how many others read this & had the same experience.

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rebing, 20.06.2011 07:19

It's on it's way back to Downsview to be on display at the Canada Air and Space Museum where it was built.

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Lance Jones, e-mail, 07.06.2011 10:31

In 1972 I flew a chipmunk from Perth in Western Australia to Tennant Creek in Central Australia. Because of the limited range of the Chippie I had to fly up the coast to various coastal towns for refuelling then across from Derby to Fitzroy crossing, Halls Creek, Victoria River Downs then across the Tamini desert to Elliot in the Centre and then follow the highway down to Tennant Creek. My brother came along as Navigator and the trip took almost a week. It was a magnificent experience in a beautiful aircraft. I am currently writing a story of the adventure after all these years if anyone is interested.

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Karl, e-mail, 13.05.2011 16:53

Dear Floyd ,

I have just found your info reg. Chipmunk sale .

I am interested in immediate purchase .

Look forward to hearing from you .

Regards ,

karl

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Dave Gillespie, e-mail, 10.05.2011 04:12

That's our Chipmunk illustrated at the top of the page! G-AKDN is the 11 pre-production airframe built in Canada at the Downsview factory. It went to the UK as one of the evaluation aircraft. We returned it to Canada and refurbished it to look as it did when originally built. It's on it's way back to Downsview to be on display at the Canada Air and Space Museum where it was built.

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Ryan Dodde, e-mail, 04.05.2011 00:03

Floyd,

I understand that you have a Chipmunk for sale. I would be interested in getting some more information if you are.

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Floyd Tuckness, e-mail, 16.04.2011 19:19

I got my first Chipmunk in 1978 and we bought my wifes Chipmunk in 1984. They are both T-10(British Manufacture).
One was wrecked in a landing accident so a third was purchased to rebuild my wife's airplane. We now have 2.5 Chipmunks for sale. We are only selling because of age and cost of flying as we dearly love our Chippies.

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Mick Skinner, e-mail, 09.03.2011 10:29

I learned to fly in a Chipmunk at RAF Coltishall in 1966 when we were giving ATC cadets air experience flights,my instructor was a Lightening Squadron pilot and we did an hour of solid aerobatics one day,fantastic stuff.For my 60th my family bought me an extreme aerobatic flight in an Extra 300 and my pilot was an ex Lightening and Red Arrows guy, I got to fly all the routines of display shows, did +5g & -2g great stuff must do it again.

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1-20 21-40

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