The de Havilland Chipmunk

The Chipmunk is AFT's unofficial mascot and belongs to their CFI.

Designed by de Havilland (Canada), the Chipmunk was an immediate hit in the UK when, in 1950, it entered service with RAF’s University Air Squadrons. Appropriately Leeds UAS were among the first to convert from the preceding Tiger Moth biplane. Exported to numerous (mostly military) operators around the world, the ‘Chippie’ is rightly regarded as one of the finest primary training aircraft ever conceived. The RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby in Lincolnshire retain two Chipmunks for converting fast jet pilots to the Hurricane and Spitfire. Resplendent in its original Portuguese Air Force markings, G-UANO is always a popular sight at Sherburn Airfield. On 22 May 2016 it was among the 49 Chipmunks that attended the type’s 70th anniversary at Old Warden airfield in Bedfordshire.