20230903 (292)_671_De_Havilland_Canada_DHC1_Chipmunk
A glider and Chipmunk had associations with two significant figures in British Aviation: Beverley Shenstone, part of the Spitfire's design team and, oddly, that for the Ju 52, and Vaclav Czerwinski who had made his name designing gliders in Poland before WWII. The glider collaboration did not win a competition for a new tandem sailplane but Shenstone's involvement in the first domestic design from De Havilland Canada (Czerwinski's connection here is tenuous to say the least) resulted in one of the most charismatic and effective post-war initial trainers - not to say durable in popularity. In bright schemes they made an unusual and enjoyable display combination: afterwards the Chipmunk, in RCAF colours, went on to display singly and equally enjoyably.
20230903 (292)_671_De_Havilland_Canada_DHC1_Chipmunk
A glider and Chipmunk had associations with two significant figures in British Aviation: Beverley Shenstone, part of the Spitfire's design team and, oddly, that for the Ju 52, and Vaclav Czerwinski who had made his name designing gliders in Poland before WWII. The glider collaboration did not win a competition for a new tandem sailplane but Shenstone's involvement in the first domestic design from De Havilland Canada (Czerwinski's connection here is tenuous to say the least) resulted in one of the most charismatic and effective post-war initial trainers - not to say durable in popularity. In bright schemes they made an unusual and enjoyable display combination: afterwards the Chipmunk, in RCAF colours, went on to display singly and equally enjoyably.