deHavilland Chipmunk
Fighter Factory
In search of a mono wing trainer to replace the Tiger Moth, deHavilland of Canada developed the single engine Chipmunk. The first Chipmunk flew in 1946 and quickly became the primary two-seat trainer for Royal Canadian Air Force. The British version was fully aerobatic and had a multi panel sliding canopy unlike the single sliding panel on the Canadian version.
The easy to fly Chipmunk quickly became popular and orders were filled for Egypt, Chile, Thailand and Portugal who was licensed to build 60 of their own. Chipmunks remained in military service through 1996 and many are still privately owned. The Duke of Edinburgh took his first flying lesson in a Chipmunk in 1952.
The Fighter Factory's Chipmunk was built in 1942 at deHavilland factory Broughton. It was immediately delivered to Royal Air Force College Cranwell where it began a long military career.
| February 29, 1952 | Delivered to Royal Air Force College Cranwell |
| January 26, 1955 | Transferred to No. 663 AOP (Air Observation Post) Squadron |
| February 20, 1957 | Detached to RAF St. Athan |
| May 21, 1957 | Detached to RAF St. Mawgan |
| May 21, 1957 | Placed into storage at No. 22 Maintenance Unit, Silloth |
| February 18, 1958 | Issued to Army Air Corps |
| March 28, 1997 | Last flight with AAC (i.e. continuous service for nearly forty years) |
| May 8, 1997 | Phillips Auction - purchased by L.J. McAlister for Amjet Aircraft Corporation, St. Paul, MN, USA |
| February 25, 2002 | Mel Norris near Greenville, SC |
| March 2004 | Acquired by the Fighter Factory |
Photos of our
deHavilland Chipmunk.
Virginia Beach Airport
1341 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23457
Military Aviation Museum
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