Chipmunk 168

[Claudel Hopson]

Just to let ye all know that C168 arrived back in Baldonnel last week. As far as I know it can be made flyable in it's current state but has a very limited amount of flying time with it's spar in it's current configuration but "they" are trying to source a mod kit to give the spar a life extension.

[Silver]

Good news Claudel !

Heres hoping that it will be in the air again soon !

.........perhaps the start of an Air Corps 'Historic Flight' '>

[cygnet]

Good man Claudel thought you had deserted the post !! Not many from the Don online '>
well any news from your end ( and not aero related )                 '>

[John K]

Hey Cygnet, long time no see with you too not just Claudel, he's probably too busy keeping the new a/c flying!! I've just taken delivery of a book called The Irish Air Corps Celebrates 100 years of flight and there aren't any photos of us in it! There's a photo on page 47 of some long haired techies pushing a Provost but I can't make out who they are. Some good photos in there though.

[Stinger]

Where did you get that book

[futurepilot]

You can get it in Easons and most other big book shops. I think you can also ring up the Don and get a hardback copy.

[Flyboy]

Has anybody got the details that I need to order it here in London? I would be very grateful. I bought Wings over Ireland a few years ago and enjoyed it, is this book as good?

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

Funny you should ask about the Air Corps book, I just picked up a batch of both the paperback and hardback copies of the book for sale in the IrishAirPics.com store.

The prices will be €20 paperback and €25 hardback excluding shipping and I hope to make them    available for sale over the next few days, possibly even sometime tonight.

Because of the weight of the books they will be shipped separately to the other items on the store and different shipping rates will apply, these will be announced when the books go live on the store.

I'll post a message on the board when the book goes on sale.


Regards,

Frank.

[Flyboy]

Hi Frank,

Will you put up a Stg price and accept Stg cheque ?

[GoneToTheCanner]

hi all
With regard to 168,is it still on strength as an Air Corps aircraft? Does it get signed off on a 101 or is a special case? I remember the first day it flew again, with Ralphie up the front and Bert in the back(shouting "encouragement"), up in Gormansburg. lots happened that day...
regards
GttC

[Bailer]

I was in 168 in "gormansburg" in april. lovlely little Plane with its Canvis and resin wings!

Its in fairly good nick already but I'm not sure how the engine's holding up!

[John K]

Flyboy, I had a real chance encounter with FlyPast magazine that someone had left in the crewroom at work, it was a few months old and there was an article in it about ex Irish Air Corps Spitfire 161 which caught my interest. Well after reading the article and still not finished in the Kharzie I flicked through the rest of the magazine and there was an advert for the book The Irish Air Corps Celebrates 100 years of Flight from Midland Counties Aviation Books. But if you can, get it from Frank through the IrishAirPics.com site. Sorry Frank, but if I'd known...........
Also, Flyboy, there's someone who posts on this site quite regularly (Tony Kearns) who knows more about the Irish Air Corps than anyone else, especially D. McCarron who wrote 'Wings over Ireland', and he's not too enamoured with McCarrons version, keep posting and maybe he'll do a deinitive narrative of the IAC! The new book is really a collection of archive photos with captions. Some good ones in there though! Especially incriminating is the photo of the new GOC Air Corps 'wing walking' on a beechcraft at Heathrow (opening the overwing feulling panel probably) with steel toecapped shoes!
Enjoy the book!

[Tony Kearns]

John K,
You are making me blush! Must rush off and polish my halo!
Not too enamoured by the latest book either an appendix of seven pages with 87 errors that I am aware of. Give me a break.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
A strop between historians! I love it. What'll it be,dusty old logbooks at ten paces, up beyond the fuel dump where the Vampires were scrapped?? I suggest T.K. should be less scathing of D.McCarron, given T.Ks much greater level of access over the years.Anyway, the stuff that gets left out of the "official" books is much more interesting.
regards
GttC

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hello again
With regard to the Chipmunk,I suggest the restorers contact John Romain at the Aeroplane Restoration Company or the DH trust, who have the design rights to the Chippie, which needs a great deal of modification to allow it to operate, such as x-rays to the engine mount, spar tie bracket mod, etc.
regards
GttC