1/72 DHC1 CHIPMUNK RAF BBMF CONINGSBY 1994 WK518 AV7226010

Designed and developed immediately after World War II, by de Havilland Canada, as a trainer replacement for the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane, the DHC-1 Chipmunk first took to the skies at DHC's Downsview base, near Toronto, on 22nd May 1946. Into service within months, the Chipmunk was procured in large numbers by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF). Now, nearly 80 years after the type first entered service, hundreds of Chipmunks remain airworthy and are in operation around the world.

A total of 1,283 Chipmunks were built - 217 by de Havilland Canada, until production ended in 1956, and 1,000 were built under licence by de Havilland itself - initially at Hatfield Aerodrome before production was transferred to Broughton, near Chester. A further 66 were manufactured by OGMA (Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronautico), at Alverca in Portugal from 1955 to 1961, for the Portuguese Air Force. Amazingly, six are still in service with the Forca Aerea Portuguesa today.

The prototype was fitted with the air-cooled Gipsy Major 1C, but production aircraft in Canada (designated T.1 and T.2) were fitted with the Gipsy Major 8. Those produced in the UK (T.10) also had the Gipsy Major 8. The RAF took 735 T.10s, seeing action with the Royal Navy and Army too, and 217 were exported and redesignated as Mk 20s. The Mk 21 was the civilian production version - 28 were built.

Many Chipmunks that had been in military use were sold to civilians when they were struck off charge, either to private owners or to companies. Typically, these were used for a variety of purposes, often involving the type's excellent flying characteristics and its capability for aerobatic manoeuvres.

Towing gliders and crop spraying have been two areas where the Chippie's talents are still used today. Conversion to civil use saw the T.10 redesignated as Mk 22, with five converted for agricultural spraying duties as Mk 23.

After an impressive career with the Royal Air Force, WK518 was allocated to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) in 1983. Based at RAF Coninsgby, in Lincolnshire, WK518 is one of two Chipmunks still flying with the RAF today, the other being WG486 (also with the BBMF). The BBMF Chipmunks are used throughout the year, primarily for the conversion and continuation training of BBMF fighter pilots on tail-wheel aircraft. Other functions include the reconnaissance of new venues, the delivery or collection of pilots and, occasionally, the delivery of small spare parts.