Thursday, 24 October 2013

Chipmunk N861WP at Rangitata Island.

Bevan Dewes, the new owner of the De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk N861WP (c/n C1-0748),  has kindly provided these two photos taken by Alex Mitchell out of Rangitata Island.
 It was originally built for the RAF and serialled WP861 (from whence its current US registration comes) before heading to the USA to become N65273 followed by N861WP from April 1984. It came to NZ in about 2004
It is currently based at Rangitata Island with Bevan.
Check out the following video clip :-
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/9314452/Bevan-backs-grassroots-flying

Below are couple of pics I took on Monday.
 Above : clearing out. Below : clearing in.
 
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous15 December 2013 at 01:37

    OH, but you are missing out on the story this plane has to tell! 1WP had a distinguished student, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, flew this aircraft during flight training. I believe he soloed in this aircraft, if memory serves.

    I grew up hanging around this bird in the 90's near Atlanta, Georgia, and flew her, twice. The gentleman who owned her passed earlier this year and I was wondering where she'd ended up after the sale years ago. Looks like several transactions later, she's still in good hands!

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  2. Unknown30 June 2014 at 22:32

    Pasturepilot, it would be very interesting to get in touch with you and see what information you have on WP861, I am the current owner here in NZ and am looking for all the information I can on the history of the aircraft, including previous owners,

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