Chipmunk G-AOTM (Bristol aero conversion)

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 264

I remember seeing this Chippie at Elstree in the mid 70`s parked with the long term residents on the back row. I had heard it got exported to the States shortly thereafter, it always struck me as one of the best looking Chipmunks i had seen. Does anyone know it`s current state or have any recent pictures?.........Martin

Original post

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16 years 10 months

Posts: 455

From my notes -

Cancelled from the UK register 26/4/76 as sold to USA;

N122DH(1)
Registered 12/5/76 W.G.Dodds & B.C.Hickey; CoA issued 16/7/76;
R.Dill 28/1/78; CoA expired 15/6/79; CoA issued 9/8/79;
G.R.Hill & L.F.Wittenberg 3/8/91; registration cancelled 25/10/00;

I have no further record of this aircraft.

RMR

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 9,780

It belongs to a friend in Delaware. It was extensively damaged on the ground when a hurricane went through Georgia circa probably fifteen years ago. It is under rebuild.

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 264

Thanks David, do you have any pictures of it you could share with us?.....Martin

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13 years 4 months

Posts: 346

Chipmunk G-AOTM (Bristol aero conversion)

Well, to get things going, THIS is a picture of the Aircraft in question

G-AOTM

G-AOTM: DHC-1 Chipmunk 22A, To N65312 1976), taken at Wisley 15-9-57, Tony Clarke Collection (source http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/7090618951/in/set-72157626917257590)

Built for the RAF as c/no C1/0862. Delivered as WP988 on 7/4/1953. Became G-AOTM 11/7/1956 (see http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AOTM-1.pdf for history 1956-1969)

To N65312 on 26/4/1976 (see http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AOTM-2.pdf for history 1969-1976)

Later became N122DH. This is what she looked like at Oshkosh, Wisconsin on 24/7/2012: http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1359935/. Oddly wearing incorrect RAF makings as "WD288" (c/no C1/0227) and still currently registered as such to a private owner in Cloquet, Minnesota with a C of A to 31/5/2015

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 455

This is what she looked like at Oshkosh, Wisconsin on 24/7/2012: http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1359935/. Oddly wearing incorrect RAF makings as "WD288" (c/no C1/0227) and still currently registered as such to a private owner in Cloquet, Minnesota with a C of A to 31/5/2015

This aircraft is/should be -

G-AOSO
Registration cancelled 11/8/04 sold to USA;
N122DH(2)
Registered 24/8/04 A Klapmier; M.E.Frazier; current on register 2/11;

This is the second Chipmunk to use N122DH.

See http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=122DH

RMR

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 9,780

Its exactly where it was in post 3 ! Its in my friend's hangar on his strip in Delaware in a pile of bits! Somehow whilst he was working in the 'noughties'
someone managed to get the registration reallocated by the FAA.

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 264

Thanks for confirming that David, what colour is it now, does it still have the spats and bubble canopy?.......Martin

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24 years 2 months

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Its literally a pile of bits ! It was thrown up in the air by the hurricane so by the time its had new wings -new rear fuselage and a new cockpit put together it will be time to decide what colour!

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 264

That sounds like a lot of work to save a plane, glad to hear this particular one is being saved..........Martin

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24 years 2 months

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Its called a Bristol Tourer -there is another example G-APOY in storage in Norway.

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 264

Thanks for the Elstree shot, that is where i remember it being parked, i also notice the Airdale G-ARYZ parked behind it, i had a number of flights in that as the owner was a friend of my fathers.....Martin

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12 years 5 months

Posts: 333

Just out of curiosity,whose Dak is that also seen in the photo,?nice colour scheme!

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18 years 3 months

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Just out of curiosity,whose Dak is that also seen in the photo,?nice colour scheme!

Its KJ836 from the RAE Farnborough, became G-APML.

Richard

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11 years 2 months

Posts: 180

re Dr Smith's post yesterday and the attached Terry Clarke Collection photo
(G-AOTM: DHC-1 Chipmunk 22A, To N65312 1976), taken at Wisley 15-9-57, )

Two questions just for personal interest....
Was this Chipmunk one of a pair purchased ex RAF by Universal Air Services Ltd around 1954 that languished for a couple of years or so in the then main hangar at Fairoaks?

The photo date of 15-9-57 was this the date and occasion of the first Royal Aeronautical Garden Party held at Wisley? If so I was there and I suspect the year could have been 1956 not '57.

If I am correct, it was also supposed to be the first occasion when Jeffrey Quill and Bill Bedford first performed their popular tight display around the airfield perimeter tail chase sequences in Spitfire AB910 and Hurricane
G-AMAU!

That was and remains a terrific show that still stands up well by comparison with some of today's remarkable events.

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24 years 2 months

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Kartman -The Airedale is still around currently stored at Spanhoe .

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18 years 8 months

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Whilst it is called a Bristol Aero Conversion I always believed its nickname was the "Masefield Tourer" as the mods were designed by Sir Peter Masefield when he was MD of Bristol Aero Company, indeed I beklive he had one as a runabout to commute to/from Filton!

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24 years 2 months

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Lion Rock - the Chipmunk G-AOTM was Sir Peter Masefield's machine. Two others were built -one crashing in France .