de Havilland Chipmunk T.10
de Havilland Aircraft Company · Canada · first flew 1946 · light aircraft
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 was the primary basic trainer of the RAF from the early 1950s, replacing the Tiger Moth and remaining in service for decades.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem open-or-enclosed two-seat trainer
- Long glazed canopy over both cockpits
- Distinctive bubble-style framed canopy on RAF T.10s
A compact, low-wing monoplane with a long tandem canopy, rounded wingtips, and fixed tailwheel undercarriage; the framed bubble canopy and pronounced nose cowling distinguish it from postwar contemporaries.
Specifications
- The de Havilland Chipmunk T.10 has a length of 7.75 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.47 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 222 km/h (138 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in Canada by de Havilland Canada and first flown in 1946, the Chipmunk was adopted by the RAF as the T.10 with a revised enclosed canopy and updated equipment; UK production was handled by de Havilland at Hatfield and Christchurch.
Variants
The main variants were the Canadian DHC-1A/B, the RAF T.10, and export Mk 20/21/22 marks produced by de Havilland and OGMA in Portugal; many T.10s were civilianised post-service as G-registered aircraft.
Where you'll see it
The Chipmunk T.10 was the backbone of RAF elementary flying training and University Air Squadron instruction from 1950 until replaced by the Grob Tutor in the 1990s and 2000s; it remains well-represented on the UK civil register.
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