FOREVER YOUNG!
The Portuguese AF Chipmunk-era took off in 1951 with delivery of the first of (eventually) seventy-six aircraft to the Escola Militar de Aeronautica (Military Aeronautical School), based at Sintra. These DHC-1 Chipmunks then replaced obsolete de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moths in Portuguese service since 1934. In 1986, marking 40th anniversary of the de Havilland Chipmunk, thirty seven DHC-1 aircraft still remained in operational use with the once more reformed Esquadra de Instruçao 101. Aircraft attrition, on an average two DHC-1s annually, was mainly attributed to the age and modification-standard of their Gipsy-engines. In October 1987, the Força Aérea Portuguesa decided to purchase eighteen Aérospatiale TB-30 Epsilon turboprop trainers to replace the obsolete – and out-dated - DHC-1 Chipmunk trainers. Having received its first Epsilon trainer in February 1989, Esquadra 101 regained its operational training-status in December 1989. All DHC-1 Chipmunks were then withdrawn from operational service as FAP’s elementary pilot-training aircraft after delivery of the final TB-30 Epsilon in 1989 and conversion of Esq101’s pilot instructors on these new French-made trainers at Sintra/BA1. Seven old and redundant de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunks were then transferred almost immediately to the Academia da Força Aérea (AFA), also located at Sintra/ BA1, to be used as target towing aircraft. In 1987 were purchased Aérostructure ASK-21 gliders, assigned to AFA’s Esquadra de Voo 802 ‘Aguias (aka Eagles) responsible for initial screening and aerial training of students attending the Academia. A profound reform of FAP’s flying training syllabus, implemented in 1997, anticipated the renewed introduction of seven modified DHC-1 Chipmunk trainers, evaluated as optimal cost-benefit alternatives for FAP’s initial pilot screening programme, the so-called Estagio de Selecçao para o Voo (ESV).
Estagio de Selecao De Voo
Esquadra de Voo 802’s main mission of selecting candidate pilot-cadets for the AFA and FAP kicks off annually late July with the arrival of (on average) thirty male/female candidates, all wanting to attend the AFA and become an operational FAP-pilot. Having already passed psycho technical, physical and medical testing outside the AFA, the instructor pilots of ‘802’ will assess during a 12-day period the ‘flying stamina’ of each of these young candidates. At first, the AFA-pilots cadets, under close supervision of their instructors, are given a three/four days academical instruction course, exclusively focused on the DHC-1 Chipmunk. An inflight guide, aircraft checklist and technical operating manual would be handed to these youngsters for self-study and a preliminary exam, which they have to pass with a >75% score before entering the actual inflight screening. Being the only military user of the Lycoming-powered DHC-1 Chipmunk, the checklist and operating manuals were made by Esquadra 802. On fifth day of their presence at Sintra/ BA1, all remaining candidates will start their inflight screening by flying up to seven general-handling flights during which basic aircraft manoeuvring, straight-level flying, turns, climbs and descents are demonstrated to and ‘copied’ by them, closely monitored by the ‘802’-instructor in the backseat. More complex stalls and traffic patterns are also taught. To assess the ‘air-ability’ of the candidates some elementary aerobatic manoeuveres are flown by the instructor in the latter stage of the selection-process. On an average, 50% of all candidates will eventually join the AFA.
AFA-Flying
All AFA students, including those destined to become operational pilots, will study at the Academia for 4.5 years, being instructed a wide variety of academical lectures and study-material. During their academical curriculum at the AFA, pilot-students will be able to fly the DHC-1 Chipmunk during their study-period at Sintra/BA1. The first year of AFA-flying is dedicated to basic flying (C1 Contacto Basico), instructing the students over a 12 mission-long training course for takeoff, landing, traffic patterns and basic aerobatics-techniques. At end of the first year, during their 20th Chipmunk-flight (including seven ESV-flights), all students will fly unique solo-mission on the DHC-1 Chipmunk during their AFA-career. During their second year at the AFA, students are taught the 12-mission long advanced flying course (C2 – Contacto Avançado), involving aerobatic-flying in addition to C1-related flying into the flying programme. Simulated flame-out landings are also practiced by reducing the engine into ‘idle-mode’ over Sintra/BA1 at various relative starting points, altitudes, various airspeeds and teaching the student how to land safely on first section of the runway. In latter AFA-years, Esquadra 802 will instruct on navigation (N1 Navegaçao VFR) and formation (F1 Formaçao) phases, totalling some 15 missions. On their seven low level visual flying rules navigation missions, students will use FAP’s standard tactical pilot charts, also used by the TB- 30 Epsilon-equipped Esquadra 101 (FAP’s dedicated initial training squadron). Before final graduation from the Acadamia da Força Aerea, all students –both flying and non-flying - with several DHC-1 Chipmunk aircraft, move to Ovar in Northern Portugal for a one week long ‘boot-camp’. At Ovar, some extra training missions are flown by the graduating ‘fifth year’ students in preparation of their transfer to Esquadra 101 and its TB-30 Epsilon trainers to start their demanding ‘the real thing’ pilot training. Since Esquadra 101 only initiates one dedicated training course a year, AFA students will remain for some months at Esquadra 802 to retain their capabilities, flying the DHC-1 Chipmunks depending on weather conditions and the flying programme.
Keep the Chipmunks flying!
The daily flying operations of Esquadra 802 (which amount to 1000 flying hours annually) with its six remaining DHC-1 Chipmunks is supported by a small but well-trained and –equipped maintenance section, ‘pampering’ their aircraft to the utmost. Since their ‘structural’ upgradation in 1997, including installation of a more powerful Lycoming-engine, the Esquadra’s Chipmunk-maintenance programme is well established, executing various dedicated pre-planned inspections (50/100/300 hours) and a 600 hours SMLU (Structural Midlife Update) at Sintra/BA1. Although its initial elementary flying training-role has been replaced by more modern and capable aircraft, the ‘reborn’ DHC-1 Chipmunk will remain a vital asset within the Força Aérea Portuguesa, especially in an era marked by rationalisation and efficiency, for several decades to come…
Photos and article: Stefan DEGRAEF and Edwin BORREMANS