de Havilland Chipmunk T.10 WB624 NAHR – Noteworthy
This fine example of a Chipmunk T.10 (Mk 10) arrived at the museum in 1995 and was built as a two-seat basic trainer; with a wingspan of 34 feet 4 inches; length 25 feet 8 inches and range of 300 miles. The type had a maximum speed of 138mph; could operate at heights up to 16,000 feet and was powered by a single de Havilland Gipsy Major Mk.8 engine. The 80th anniversary of de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk's first flight is 22nd May 2026, having first been flown in 1946, in Toronto, Canada. By Jan McGeachie.
Designed shortly after the Second World War, the type onto to sell in large numbers during the immediate post-war years. The first aircraft were built by the Canadian subsidiary of the de Havilland company under the direction of the Polish engineer W. J. Jakimiuk and his design staff. The prototype Chipmunk CF-DIO-X first flew on 22nd May 1946 at Downsview Airfield, Toronto. This test flight was piloted by Pat Fillingham and the type was introduced to operational service later that same year.
Following tests at Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) Boscombe Down, the Air Ministry adopted the Chipmunk as a successor to the Tiger Moth. The type became the standard RAF trainer for the RAF from the early 1950s until retiring from RAF flying training in 1993. Some Chipmunks continued to serve with the RAF’s Air Experience Flights until 1996.
Numerous features were incorporated to allow the type to better perform as a trainer. This included: hand-operated single-slotted wing flaps; disc brakes on the wheeled undercarriage; a thin alloy propeller for enhanced performance. An engine-driven vacuum pump powered cockpit instrumentation, lighting, onboard radio and an external light beneath the starboard wing.
The first RAF aircraft was WB549, designated Chipmunk T Mk.10 and total production of Chipmunks for the RAF was 740, the last delivered in 1951. A total of 1,014 aircraft were produced under licence by de Havilland in the U.K at initially Hatfield Aerodrome and latterly Hawarden Airfield
The first RAF Chipmunks manufactured in this country were delivered to Oxford University Air Squadron (UAS). Chipmunks eventually went on to equip all the other sixteen UASs; plus, various RAF Reserve Flying Schools thereby helping to train many National Service pilots. Prince Philip had his first flying lesson in a Chipmunk in 1952, declaring it as his favourite aircraft.
During 1958, Chipmunks flew security flights in Cyprus during the height of civil unrest there. Eight disassembled airframes were flown out to the island in Blackburn Beverley transport aircraft. Following reassembly, they were operated by No 114 Squadron for several months.
The Royal Navy acquired 12 ex-RAF aircraft in 1965 to replace the Tiger Moths of the Britannia Royal Naval College Air Experience Flight (known as Britannia Flight). In 1966, 771 and 781 Squadrons also operated others for communications and glider towing from RNAS Culdrose, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Lossiemouth. 21 Chipmunk joined the Army Air Corps on 1st September 1957, at the Army Aviation Centre used daily use until March 1997.
A few Chipmunks remain in military service and are still operated by the British historic flights – WG486 and WK518 remain with the BBMF (Battle of Britain flight). Even today hundreds of Chipmunks remain airworthy having left military use to be sold to civilians, used for a variety of purposes including aerobatic manoeuvres
Built in 1950, WB624 operated at various Flying Schools including: No.18 Reserve Flying School; No.8 Flying Training School; and Durham and Abingdon UAS's before coming to Winthorpe on 14th September 1995. WB624 underwent a major rebuild programme by the museum’s volunteers. It was moved into Hangar 2 in large airframe sections and was reassembled in situ in its current display location.
Photo credit: Jan McGeachie