Page 4 - June2019
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The pilots in the UK hold the Chipmunk near and dear
to their hearts and KDN is a recognized and respected
part of the Chipmunk community there.
I make plans to ship KDN back to the UK for the
summer of 2016, which just happens to be the
Chipmunk’s 70th anniversary. The planning gets off to
a good start. While flying to Saskatoon via the north
shore of Lake Superior, I get a call from the
Farnborough Airshow requesting KDN’s presence at
De Havilland Canada Chipmunk DHC-1 G- their Airshow, to celebrate the Chipmunk anniversary!
AKDN — 2016 United Kingdom Tour Pt. 15 It took about a second to think about, and the
By Dave Gillespie
commitment was made to be there.
KDN on display in the Bombardier Delivery Hangar.
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times.
Karen, Dave, William (James’s younger son) and Graham with KDN
I am flying KDN home across the beautiful Canada north, successfully loaded and ready for her 3rd trip across the Atlantic
with a very heavy heart. James is not with me. He has Ocean.
died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Karen and I arrive in May 2016, and Graham informs
KDN had been proudly on display in the Bombardier me that, not only is KDN all back together and ready to
delivery Hangar for two years. Customers for the fly, but he has a long time friend who wants to be the
Bombardier aircraft love seeing it tucked under the wing new custodian of KDN. It took a lot of organising.
of the latest aircraft off the production line. We Graham arrived to help dismantle and load KDN in a
continued to keep the annual inspections current with 40’container to ship back to Bagby. That process went
Graham’s help, as well as fly inspection test flights and on extremely smooth and KDN arrived safe and sound
occasion, give familiarisation flights to KDN enthusiasts. without a scratch. At the same time I was contacted
We realised the museum at Downsview would not be re- out of the blue, by a host of other special events,
opening, and we decided to return KDN to Saskatoon. I requesting KDN ‘s presence. Even more important, the
just never dreamed I would be doing the flight without most beautiful home, hangar, runway became
James. available for KDN, Karen and I to be based at for 5
James and I had discussed KDN’s future at length. The months! Located perfectly centered in the middle of all
time we spent together with KDN was special and with the special events we plan on attending with KDN.
him gone, it isn’t the same. I think the best thing for KDN
is to return her to the UK and find a new owner who will
continue to operate and maintain her as we did.
