eChipmunks

DeHavilland Chipmunks airplanes does anyone know how many may be left?

Sorry, I am just curious, my father had one and the wire to the wing flaps broke when he was coming in for a landing, at that time in 1976, there was supposedly 10 left in the USA. Then we heard another crashed and that left 9. I know Art Scholl had one also. The DeHavilland Chipmunk was used in WWII to train fighter pilots I do believe. You just never hear anything about them, ever. It's hard to even find a model of one in a hobby shop. Between my fathers rare boat and this plane, maybe I have dreamed up his 'toys' he had while I was growing up!

Public Comments

1. According to a Chris Matern, (from Chicago, Illinois, September 4, 1998), of the 1,217 Chipmunks built in Canada and England, less than 500 are still flying or are in restorable to flying condition. No other aircraft has served so widely across the world as military trainers as have Chipmunks.
2. Here are some sites about DeHavillands. http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/dehavilland_chip.htm http://aircraft.airframe.org.uk/dehavillandcanada/chipmunk/de-havilland-canada-chipmunk.html http://www.milavia.net/specials/fap_dhc-1/index.htm You can also go to this site and do more searching. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=vz-web&tab=&p=DeHavilland+Chipmunks+airplanes&btn=Search
3. Don't know about in the us. But in Canada there are lots of them, Alot of bush piolts use them
4. You can check the UK aircraft register by going to www.caa.co.uk I hope this helps...
5. http://www.warbirdalley.com/chipmunk.htm says there are over 131 still active. I took a look in some national registries for you here is the summary: USA 125 Canada 36 Australia 50 UK 129 The number from warbird alley was likely only talking about domestic aircraft and not world-wide.
6. still the most favored plane of Bush pilot's and some crop dusters must be 300 still in service in North America, a dozen in Africa, and a dozen in Australia
7. The Chipmunk was built after the war. The Tiger Moth was used for basic training during the war. There is a few here in BC stored in a hangar that need restoration, but the guy wants too much for them.
8. There are lots of them flying in Canada. The RCAF used them as primary trainers in the late 50,s and 60,s. I don't think they were around during WW2. There is a small airport in Brampton Ontario that has a group of old plane type people or there is the Warplane Hertiage people at the Hamilton Ontario airport and these people will be very knowledgeable and be able to help you. I bet some of them knew your dad if he was active in this type of aviation.