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De Havilland Chipmunk The de Havilland Chipmunk is a tandem two seat single engined training aircraft, and was the standard primary trainer for the British military though most of the post-war years. Designed to succeed the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane trainer, the Chipmunk flew for the first time at Downsview, Toronto on 22 May 1946. It was the first indigenous design of de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd, the main designer was a Pole Wsiewolod Jakimiuk. The prototype was powered by a 108 kW (145hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 1C Two were evaluated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down. As a result, the fully-aerobatic Chipmunk was ordered as an ab initio trainer for the Royal Air Force. Prince Philip took his first flying lesson in one in 1952. The Royal Canadian Air Force also adopted the Chipmunk as their primary trainer. British Chipmunks are notably different from Canadian ones; the latter have a bubble canopy, while British examples have the flat-panelled sliding canopy. The RAF received 735 Chipmunks manufactured in the UK. They initially served with University Air Squadrons. A few Chipmunks were pressed into service in Cyprus on internal security flights during the troubles of 1958, and some were used for covert reconnaissance operating out of Berlin. They were still in service for ATC Air Experience Flights until 1996 when they were replaced by the Grob Tutor. The last two Chipmunks in military service are operated by the RAF Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight, to keep its pilots current on tailwheel aircraft. Downsview built 218 Chipmunks, the last in 1951. 1014 were built in Britain. 60 Chipmunks were licence-manufactured from 1955 in Portugal for the Portuguese air force. Other users included Burma, Ceylon, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, Eire, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand and Uruguay. From the 1950s onward, the Chipmunk became a popular civilian aircraft, being used for training, aerobatics and crop spraying. Most civilian aircraft were ex-military. Units Using the Chipmunk Royal Air Force No. 31 Squadron No. 114 Squadron No. 275 Squadron No. 8 Squadron RAF Station flight, RAF Gatow (Berlin) The UASs (University Air Squadrons) The AEFs (Air Experience Flights) (Air Training Corps) External links RAF Museum Delta Aviation Royal Canadian Air Force Museum Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Chipmunk