Chipmunk 169

To mark the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the DeHavilland Chipmunk into Irish Air Corps service a series of events were arranged to mark the occasion. One of these events was opening of Ballyboy Airfield to the public so that they could get up close to a Chipmunk painted in authentic Irish Air Corps colours.

The Chipmunk, painted as an Air Corps example with the serial 169, is actually a former Royal Air Force machine, serial WD305, current civilian registration G-ARGG. Warbird experts Vintage Fabrics at Audley End in the UK were commissioned to carry out the refurbishment and paint work.

The sun made a hazy appearance on the day, which was nice considering that it was the middle of January and could have been a lot cloudier, wetter & colder! A good few visitors turned up to the event, some aircraft also flew in for the event, including another Chipmunk in RAF colours.

All in all it was a nice day out, Chipmunk 169 will hopefully be putting in an appearance at air shows and fly-in's over the summer months.