By Eric Dumigan | February 21, 2018 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 8 seconds.
Canada’s only de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunks with demonstrator markings took to the skies over Collingwood, Ont., this past August for a unique photo shoot.
Aircraft owner Brian Russell, from Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) Flight 190, flew from his home base in Lancaster, Ont., to Collingwood Regional Airport for the shoot, along with with Kevin Elwood and a second Chipmunk owned by Viking Air.
Russell had hoped to arrange a photo shoot with aviation legend George Neal, a former de Havilland test pilot and member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, who had a special affinity for the DHC-1 Chipmunk.
Neal flew Russell’s Chipmunk when he was with de Havilland, but Neal passed away in 2016, at the age of 97, before the photo shoot could be completed.
Viking Air acquired Neal’s own Chipmunk, and was operating it from Collingwood. Russell was still interested in getting the two aircraft together, and with Viking Air’s approval, the shoot was planned.
Russell’s Chipmunk (FHY) was built at Downsview, Ont., in 1949 and taken from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) production line to be used as a de Havilland demonstrator aircraft.
The airframe received updates and modifications and was operated by de Havilland Canada until it was sold to an executive at Power Corporation of Canada in the early 1960s.
With less than 1,000 hours on the airframe, Power Corp.’s chief of maintenance, Douglas Reagh Simpson, was tasked with maintaining the Chipmunk, along with the company’s other aircraft.
Simpson was also able to fly the Chipmunk for pleasure and began a love affair with the airframe that would last until the end of his life.
Several notable people flew the aircraft, including Vic Emery, a Canadian Olympic gold medalist in bobsleigh.
Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) contracted Aircraft Industries at St. Jean, Que., to maintain the Canadian Armed Forces’ fleet of Chipmunk trainers.
Near the end of the “Care Program,” the plane was sent to Aircraft Industries, where it was fitted with a Lycoming 0-320 engine with the hopes of convincing the DND to re-power its fleet of Chipmunks, extending the service life.
The proposal was rejected and DND eventually replaced the Chipmunk with Beechcraft CT-134 Musketeers in 1971.
At the same time, Power Corp. began selling its fleet, and FHY was offered to Simpson, who thoroughly enjoyed flying the aircraft. Starting in 1987, he overhauled FHY, completing the restoration in early 1990s.
Sky Harbour Aircraft was hired to re-paint FHY in its DHC demonstrator markings. Simpson passed away in 2015, and Russell bought the aircraft. He continues to maintain it and fly it in Simpson’s honour.
Viking Air’s Chipmunk is a DHC-1B-2-S5, and was built in 1956 for the RCAF.
The airframe was struck off strength in 1970, finishing its career with 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Portage la Prairie, Man.
After passing through several civilian owners, Neal purchased the airframe in 1991.
Neal flew the airframe until 2015, when the Guinness Book of World Records recognized him as the oldest active licenced pilot in the world at 96 years and 194 days old.
Viking Air bought the aircraft in April 2017 and keeps it in Collingwood under the care of Kevin Elwood.
