Page 8 - March 2019

Poor KDN. What a trooper, as she pushed through the
constant hot headwinds, making her way Northwest.
The oil temperature was pegged on the gage. Stopping
for fuel en route we were also overheated and gave up
to wait for cooler weather. The Gypsy engine just kept
purring and never gave an indication of being stressed. I
understood how all the famous long distance flyers felt
as they crossed continents and oceans setting records.
Flying England to Africa to Australia, the Gypsy gained a
well-earned reputation and continues today performing
for us as we crossed North America.

ADVENTURES WITH G-AKDN

CHAPTER 12

"Move up one foot and in three feet." said the
photographer over the radio. Here James and I were flying
formation with the EAA Photo aircraft over the Wisconsin
countryside. What an honour to be asked to do this. One of
my favourite aviation writers Bud Davisson had asked to
write an article about KDN and our adventures with her.
This article appeared in the EAA vintage aircraft magazine
and KDN was also featured on the back cover.

Arriving back at home in Saskatoon we breathed a sigh
of relief. We were glad to be home safe and sound. We
were very proud to have accomplished our goal of
getting KDN back in the air as she looked 60 years ago,
fly her across Canada to meet up with her original test
pilot on the spot she was built, 60 years to the day. An
ambitious plan that played out perfectly.

We had returned to Downsview to collect KDN and fly her to
the EAA Fly In at Oshkosh. James’s son Charles flew as co-
pilot on the trip. We made a stop in Brampton where we
flew an air-to-air photo mission with the great Canadian
photographer Eric Dumigan. Eric’s and EAA photos of KDN
have become very well known and represent the iconic
image of start of the Chipmunk story.

Charles and I departed Oshkosh for the long flight back to This was just one of many more special
Saskatoon in typical blistering humid heat of the Wisconsin adventures we would have in KDN.
summer.
to be continued...