de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk was the first aircraft designed by the de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada.

Photo of DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-BNZC RCAF 671 — DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-BNZC RCAF 671 at Old Warden

The prototype’s first flight was on 22nd May 1946 and the Royal Canadian Airforce and RAF both expressed an interest in the aircraft as a primary trainer.

217 were built in Canada but a far greater number, 1000, were built under licence in the UK and a further 66 in Portugal by OGMA (Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico). BAe Systems (The de Havilland museum puts these figures at 214, 1014 and 60 respectively).

Photo of DHC-1 Chipmunk T10 WZ879/G-BWUT — DHC-1 Chipmunk T10 WZ879/G-BWUT

Photo of DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk22 WG308/G-BYHL & T10 WB585/G-AOSY — DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk22 WG308/G-BYHL & T10 WB585/G-AOSY

The RAF Chipmunk T.Mk10, powered by a Gypsy Major 8 engine, was exported to 14 other air forces from Thailand to Egypt and Uruguay.

The Chipmunk began to be phased out as the RAF’s primary trainer in the 1950s and 1960s and many were acquired by civilian operators for use in flying schools, as crop sprayers, glider tugs and by enthusiasts. The DHC-1 Chipmunk did not fully disappear from RAF service until 1996 when it was replaced by the Scottish Aviation Bulldog.

Photo of De Havilland Canada DNC-1 Chipmunk Mk 22 G-BXCV/WP929 — De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk 22 G-BXCV/WP929

Whatever the production numbers, the Chipmunk is still a reliable, easy to maintain aircraft. There are still over 100 Chipmunks on the UK civil aircraft register with numerous others still flying or in museums worldwide, most of which are over 70 years old.