Peninsula Aero Club

De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

Designed by De Havilland Canada as a replacement for the DH82A Tiger Moth, the Chipmunk design proved a big technological leap.  It was far removed from the humble ply wood, fabric, tube and wire design of the Tiger.  De Havilland Canada was fortunate to have the former chief designer of Polish aircraft manufacturer PZL, Wsiewolod Jan Jakimiuk in its employ.  The Canadian Chipmunk was partially aerobatic, was powered by much the same engine as had been installed in the Tiger Moth, yet enjoyed a performance far in excess of the Tiger.  Apart from fabric covering on the wings aft of the main spar, the training edge flaps and the control surfaces, the Chipmunk was an all metal aeroplane.  The first Chipmunk took to the air near Toronto on 22 May, 1946.

Chipmunk produced by De Havilland Canada, featuring the single piece canopy.

When the Royal Air Force expressed interest in the Chipmunk, two aircraft were sent for evaluation at Boscombe Down in the U.K.  The success of the trials led to full scale production in the U.K. as a fully aerobatic ab initio air force trainer. 

This is one of the two Chippys we have at Tyabb.  

It was number 24 off the U.K. production line and was built as an instrument trainer for the Royal New South Wales Aero Club. 

Designated the DHC-1 T10, it was powered by a Gipsy Major 8 engine of 145hp.  U.K. produced Chipmunks began entering flying schools from 1950. While all the Chipmunks look much the same, those redesigned in the U.K. differ markedly from the Canadian version;  built to imperial measurements instead of metric, installation of the Gipsy Major 8 engine rather than the Major 10, faired landing gear legs, different wingtips and cockpit layout, a slightly thinner aluminium skin and changes to the attachments for the wings, tailplane and elevator profile.  The most obvious change is the use of a multi-panel cockpit canopy instead of the one-piece version of the Canadian Chipmunks.

When first produced, engine starting was by cartidges which were fired to drive down a piston and thus crank the engine.  The one pictured here was modified to include a conventional electric starter. 

Of the 1,291 Chipmunks built, only 217 came out of Canada.  The rest were produced in the U.K.  One was sent to Australia for evaluation by the R.A.A.F. but was declined in favour of our homegrown Winjeel.  Those that did appear on the Australian civil register were purchased by flying schools.

The Chipmunk is renowned for the way it flies.  A pilot can feel at one with the aircraft when flying a Chipmunk. The harmonisation of its controls have often led to the claim that it is a poor man's Spitfire.  It's a tail wheel aircraft and requires some getting used to.   Should that claim seem far fetched, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight retains a Chipmunk T10 just for training pilots who have been chosen to fly the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire.

Chipmunk specs:

Engine:  one 145hp De Havilland Major 8

Dimensions:  wing span  -  34' 4" (10.46m)      length  -  25' 8" (7.82m)

Weight:  empty  -  1417lb (643kg)    normal load  -  1540lb (700kg)    max load  -  2000lb (908kg)

Performance:  Max speed 138mph    Ave cruise speed 104mph (90knots)    Service ceiling 16,000'      Range 415nm