WK608 being used for pilot training. Cdr Adrian Orchard is seen here returning from an early training sortie. [© Lee Howard]

WK608 banks sharply away over the Somerset Levels. [© Lee Howard]

The DHC-1 Chipmunk was the first aircraft to be designed and built by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. Intended as a Tiger Moth replacement in the basic training role, it made its first flight from Toronto on 22 May 1946. Production was soon started in the UK, initially at Hatfield and later transferring to Chester, to provide the Royal Air Force with an ab-initio trainer designated as the T.10.

Entering service in 1950 the Royal Navy acquired a dozen ex-RAF aircraft in 1965 to replace the Tiger Moths of the Britannia Royal Naval College Air Experience Flight at Roborough (known as Britannia Flight), with the first entering service in 1966. Additional to the Roborough aircraft, 771 and 781 Squadrons also operated examples for communications and glider towing duties from RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Lee-on-Solent together with the Station Flights of RNAS Yeovilton, Lossiemouth and Culdrose. After 27 years of sterling service the Chipmunk was finally retired from Royal Navy service in 1993.

Chipmunk T.10 WK608

Chipmunk T.10 WK608 was built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Chester and, following early service with the Royal Air Force, entered service with the Royal Navy's Britannia Flight at Roborough (now Plymouth City Airport) in June 1966. She served with the unit until retirement of the type from service in 1993, transferring to the RNHF at Yeovilton in July of that year, thus becoming the last flying example of the type in RN service.

Unlike the remainder of the RNHF aircraft, WK608 is not displayed on the airshow circuit and doesn't get a winter break either, being used for continuation training throughout the year and providing the display pilots with much valued tailwheel experience.