Chipmunk WB586 / LN-DHC

Photo: Vincent Barelly-Rey

General Information :

  • deHavilland DHC-1 ‘Chipmunk’.
  • Two-seat dual-control single-engined primary trainer (military).
  • Designed and developed by deHavilland of Canada, as a successor to the Tiger Moth.
  • Maiden flight 22nd May 1946.
  • Originally built in Canada at de Havilland’s factory in Downsview, Ontario.
  • Later also built under licence in the UK, and in Portugal.
  • Main production years were the 1950s.
  • The aircraft was used in large numbers as the primary trainer for the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. It also served in this function with several other Air Forces worldwide.   
  • Many civilian-owned examples are still operating around the world.
  • Power plant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major Type 8, a 4-cylinder in-line inverted air-cooled piston engine. Swept volume 6 litres (373 cu.in) giving 145 hp (108 kW)
  • Propeller: 2-bladed fixed-pitch type Fairey Reed A66753
  • Performance: Maximum speed: 138 mph (222 km/h, 120 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)
  • Range: 259 miles (417 km, 225 nautical miles)
  • Service ceiling: 15,800 ft (4,800 m)
  • Dimensions: Length 7,75m Width 10,46m Height 2,16m
  • DHC-1 is the designation for Chipmunks built in Canada.
  • T.10 is the designation for Chipmunks built in the UK.

    Photo credit: Stefan Keric


    Photo credit: Johnny Comstedt


    Photo credit: Johnny Comstedt


    Photo credit: Stefan Keric


    Photo credit: Vincent Barelly-Rey

Photo credit: Rod Blievers

WB685 photographed in 1966. Photo credit: Rod Blievers

On the 13th of November 1973 WB586 was delivered to Nr. 6 Air Experience Flight (6AEF) at RAF Abingdon in Berkshire, west of London. Here the index letter A was added to the tailplane. 

The purpose of the Air Experience Flights was to introduce young people, Air Training Corps cadets, University Squadron students, and similar, to flying light military aircraft with a view to recruitment in the Royal air Force.

WB586 remained at RAF Abingdon until January 1996, when she was sold from the Royal Air Force to a private owner – The Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCO) at Duxford in Cambridgeshire.

ARCO is a major partner and supporter og The Norwegian Spitfire Foundation.

Duxford airfield is operated by the Imperial War Museum and is globally famous as being the base for several aircraft operators and restoration companies, and for being a ‘living museum’ where the vintage aircraft are to be seen on the ground – and, not least, in the air where they belong.

In October 1996 ARCO sold WB586 to Norwegian owners and she moved to her new base at Kjeller Airfield near Oslo. WB586 was registered in Norway as LN-DHC, but has retained the markings she carried while serving with the 6AEF.

In November 2021 WB586 was transferred to the Norwegian Spitfire Foundation, and is still based at and operating from Kjeller Airfield.

Some interesting facts about the Chipmunk :

What is a Chipmunk ?
Well, the Canadians at DeHavilland like to name the aircraft after their wild fauna. So we have the DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-3 Otter, and the DHC-1 Chipmunk. A Chipmunk is a small and charming, but very active, member of the squirrel family. Easily identified by the black and white stripes over its head and down its back.

So “small, charming, and active”, can very easily also be applied to our aircraft.

Is a Chipmunk (the aircraft) a ‘warbird’ ?
Well, yes and no.  Although intended to be used purely as a basic-trainer, the Chipmunk has in fact had several  other roles.

During the late 1950s on the island of Cyprus, an armed conflict was taking place between the ruling British and EOKA, a Greek Cypriot guerilla-group. Here a number of Chipmunks were flown by 114 Squadron Royal Air Force, and operated as aerial reconnaissance/observation aircraft; spotting the insurgents and guiding the British Army troops on the ground.

During the Cold War, when Berlin was divided into the Western Allied and the Eastern Soviet Sectors, the Royal Air Force had a flight of Chipmunks based at RAF Gatow airfield. These were permitted, in accordance with a Four-Power Agreement, to fly east of the Berlin Wall and monitor Soviet military establishments and equipment. While these flights were intended to maintain a peaceful profile, in one instance a Soviet soldier did actually take a shot at a Chipmunk and hit the propeller boss, damaging it. This item was then displayed as a trophy in the Officer Mess at RAF Gatow.

Photo source BRIXMIS

What are the markings on Chipmunk WB586 ?

Overall the RAF roundels, aircraft code, etc are standard for an aircraft of this type and function.

The interesting item is the green shield on either side of the fuselage. This is the symbol for the No. 6 Air Experience Flight (6AEF).

The white VI are the Roman numerals for number six.

The symbol above this is a representation of the Uffington White Horse. This is a famous pre-historic carving in the chalk hills close to Abingdon and is visible for many miles both from the air and from the ground.

On the vertical tailplane is a small symbol – the bear representing Berlin.

No. 6AEF still exists today, now based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and flying the new Grob Tutor T Mk 1.

Finally, in 2025 Chipmunks are still kept in service by the Royal Air Force.

The famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight uses Chipmunks to train modern pilots on tail-wheeled aircraft – before they progress on to flying Spitfires or Hurricanes.

If anyone has photographs of, or information on, WB586 prior to October 1996 we would like to hear from you.

Please contact: david@norwegianspitfire.com