Page 3 - March 2018

Growing up on the Canadian prairies and
having a dad who spent time flying in the Royal
Navy Fleet Air Arm during WWII, I was addicted
to airplanes at an early age. With a major RCAF
base nearby my home in Regina Saskatchewan,
the sky was always full of yellow trainers and
silver jets. It was the “nifty fifties” of aviation.
Many WWII aircraft were still being used and
many new designs were being developed. I
could tell what kind of aircraft was flying
overhead, by just listening to the sound of their
engine. Dad would take us kids out to the
airport whenever something unique or

different landed. I built many models from
De Havilland Canada Chipmunk DHC-1 G- balsa wood and plastic. My favorite were, the
AKDN — 2016 United Kingdom Tour WWI Sopwith Camel and Albatros, and WWII
By Dave Gillespie Spitfire.
But there was one airplane that caught my eye
ADVENTURES WITH G-AKDN - CHAPTER 1 every time one floated by, or a large formation of
them rumbled through our big Saskatchewan sky. It
The de Havilland Canada Chipmunk S/N 11 is a pre- was a small, slim design with a bubble canopy and
production aircraft, designed and built in Downsview, bright yellow paint. Dad told me it was the new
Ontario. Bearing tail number G-AKDN, this DHC-1 is the trainer that replaced the Tiger Moth he had trained
oldest flying example of the type. Designed 70 years ago, in. It was the deHavilland Chipmunk. I even liked
G-AKDN symbolizes the birth of de Havilland Canada the name. It seemed to be something a young boy
aerospace industry. could dream of actually flying.
This historic aircraft is available by appointment to be continued next month….
throughout the United Kingdom during the summer of
2016 for display, demonstration flights, and special
events.
G-AKDN, an Aviation Ambassador aircraft for Canada and
is an impressive example of Canada’s rich aerospace
heritage….

We are at full throttle, in a left hand 60 degree, 2 G
banked turn, at 500 feet over the lush English
countryside. I am focused on 2 airplanes only meters
ahead of me. I feel their wake turbulence nibbling at my
controls. Out of the corner of my eye is a purple flash.
Another aircraft is passing us on the outside of the turn,
and when I look right to see him, I am looking almost
straight up into the early afternoon sun. The heat from
which, has nothing to do with the sweat I have worked
up. An exciting few seconds that repeats itself over the
course of this 30 turn, 100 mile air race. How did my wife
Karen and I end up in the middle of an Air Race in
England, flying a vintage Canadian aircraft? Magazine cover with Tiger Moth and
the new Chipmunk