ADF-SERIALS
Australian
& New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials &
History
RAAF De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The Chipmunk was designed and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada Ltd in 1946, was selected to replace the Tiger Moth as the standard primary trainer in all R.A.F Volunteer Reserve Flying Schools and was produced in quantity in Great Britain.
RAAF
Two Chipmunks were evaluated by the RAAF as possible Tiger Moth replacements. Initial trails were conducted with Chipmunk VH-BFT from `December 1947 to April 1948 and resulted in a favorable report of it's flying characteristics although 19 suggested modification recommendations were listed in the evaluation report. Further trials were conducted in with Chipmunk VH-AKW in 1952. Ultimately, the type was not selected for RAAF service and the CAC Winjeel was adopted instead. Cadets of the Air Training Corps (ATC) were also given air experience flights in Chipmunks hired from the Royal Victorian Aero Club at Moorabbin over the years.
Army
Several of the Australian Army’s early pilots gained experience in the aircraft . However, the Chipmunk has a special place in the history of Australian Army Aviation for quite a different reason. A number of these machines were declared surplus by the R.A.F and sold (new) to civil flying schools and Aero Clubs. The Royal Victorian Aero Club bought two and these were available to early Army pilots for subsidised "continuation" flying while the Army awaited agreement by the R.A.A.F. for it to operate its own aircraft. During this time (1950’s) Major Ken Oram, then at AHQ, used some of this flying to give personal experience of the military use of light aircraft to (then) COL A.L. MacDonald, the Director of Military Operations and Plans. This was done "after office hours" and in Chipmunks. COL MacDonald quickly became convinced of the value of "army aviation" and at Oram’s suggestion, arranged for the raising of 1 Army Aviation Company, based at Bankstown Airfield, as a home for Army pilots and to train new pilots, using chartered civil aircraft. COL MacDonald became General Sir A. L. MacDonald KBE, CB, Chief of Defence Force Staff 1977-79 but never lost his interest in Army Aviation.
Navy
During the early 1960s, the Royal Victorian Aero Club (RVAC) was contracted to provide initial training and grading for Royal Australian Naval aircrew, particularly those destined to undertake pilot and observer training with the United States Navy. At least 12 chipmunks were employed by the RVAC at Moorabbin airfield for this purpose.
Australian Civilian Chipmunks
The Chipmunk proved to be a popular with over 70 examples imported into the country form various sources including surplus RAF, RCAF examples. Many were employed with Aero Clubs and private owners. Some were also highly modified for use as aerial crop sprayers including three which were converted into single-seat agricultural spraying aircraft to become known as the Sasin SA-29 Spraymaster. Another (VH-CXZ) was fitted with a 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360 flat-four piston engine, wingtip tanks, clear-view canopy and metal wing skinning as the Aerostructures Sundowner touring aircraft.
Chipmunks on loan to the RAAF
| Registration | Type | C/N | Aircraft History |
| VH-AKW | DHC-1 Mk 21 | C1/0153 |
VH-AKW
was first registered to De Havilland Australia
on 14 December 1951, and was the prototype
Mk.21. |
| VH-BFT | DHC-1A-1 | 22 |
Registered
to De Havilland Aircraft PTY LTD 10/12/1947
to 09/12/1948.
|
