VH-BWA (2) DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
(c/n C1-0126)
Although a Royal Aero Club of SA
machine, this Chipmunk was photographed by Neil Follett at
Moorabbin in November 1959
during a visit of several of the club's aircraft to Melbourne.
Form-
erly the RAF's WB678, this
aircraft was shipped to Australia in 1956 being registered in September
of that year to the
RACSA. On 26 May 1960 the engine lost power on taking off
from a private
strip three miles
north of Padthaway, SA on a flight to Parafield, and -BWA sustained
substantial
damage. It was
rebuilt over the next couple of years and restored to the register in
August of 1960
as VH-UET, only to
crash again a scant two months later while on loan to the Whyalla Aero
Club.
A student pilot,
following a series of circuits and bumps decided (illegally) to give
his brother a ride
and suffered an engine
failure at a height of about 150 ft. In attempting to turn back
to the runway
the aircraft crashed
in thick brush. Fortunately neither pilot nor passenger were
seriously hurt, but
-UET was a complete write
off. It was officially stricken from the register on 27
November 1962.