King Charles III's 'The Royal' Chipmunk

De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22, WP903, (G-BCGC) was manufactured in 1952 by De Havilland in the United Kingdom (UK). It was one of 1,000 Chipmunks made in the UK and was number 776 in the production line, with constructors number C1-0776. The Royal Air Force received 735 Chipmunks, which were designated in British service as the de Havilland Chipmunk T.10, of which this was one.
The Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and nineteen other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years.
Wsiewołod Jakimiuk, a Polish pre-war engineer, was the principal designer of the Chipmunk for De Havilland Canada, leading the design team.
WP903 served with the RAF Queens Flight, hence the unique Dayglo Red colour scheme and warning lamp (the 'Parrot'), which was a specific modification for its Royal service.
During its first assignment with the Queens Flight from 20th September 1960 to 12th June 1964 it was used to teach The Duke of Kent, Prince Michael and Prince William of Gloucester to fly.
Reassigned back to the Queens Flight in July 1969 it was used to teach Prince Charles, the then Prince of Wales and now King Charles III, by his own instructor Squadronn Leader Philip Pinney, who flew a total of 101 flights. Starting training at RAF Tangmere, the Prince Charles went on to fly his first solo at RAF Bassingbourn on January 14, 1969, followed by the award of his Private Pilots Licence in March 1969 and his RAF Preliminary Flying Badge on 2nd August.
WP903 was then returned to No.27 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Shawbury in August 1970.
Whilst WP903 was the main Chipmunk to serve with the Queens Flight, WF848 also served between August 1954 and April 1955 for Prince Phillip's flying training at White Waltham and later from March to April 1979, WP904 was detached from the Royal Navy Grading Flight, for Prince Andrew's flying instruction.
It had made its last RAF flight from RAF Benson on 10 October 1969 after being transferred from the Queen’s Flight to the storage facility at Shawbury.
On leaving the RAF WP903 was acquired by the Culdrose Gliding Club in March 1974, serving as a Glider Tug until December 1996.
The Chipmunk has been based at RAF Henlow since December 2001 and is operated by the Henlow Chipmunk Group.
In 2020 with RAF Henlow airfield closing, WP903 found a new home and moved the very short distance to Old Warden, where it is now based.
Filmed at the Shuttleworth King & Country Premiere Airshow at Old Warden airfield on 7th May 2023. Display flown by Robert Brinkley.
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[@davidwheatcroft2797]

HRH Prince Charles was kind enough to come to dinner with us at RAF Woodvale in the late 60s, where I was also learning to fly Chipmunks. He sipped 1 pint all night. Good times, with our own Squadron car AND driver to take us drinking!

[@danko6582]

I flew these as a kid. Would love to own one if I didn't have to maintain it...

[@AnnaOkrutna-sd3ys]

❤️

[@stevep4131]

Great we have a preserved Chipmunk. Depressing its a "Royal" Chipmunk. Just underlines the daftness of the whole "Royal Family" idea.

[@davidwarren202]

There are plenty of Chipmunks still flying

[@ahamilton63]

Why don't you keep your opinions to yourself, mate? No one is interested what you think of the Royal Family.

[@stevep4131]

@@ahamilton63 Oh sorry. Thought the comments section was for comments.