De Havilland Chipmunk 168

To initiate Irish Historic Flight we started with small beginnings. Captain Declan Curtis, supported by Captain Frank Keegan, decided to restore a De Havilland Chipmunk into the original Irish Air Corps colour scheme from 1951. With the co-operation of then Colonel Paul Fry, now Brigadier-General, this was carried out. Thus the Chipmunk bearing the Air Corps 1951 colour scheme number 169 was born.

The Restoration TeamThis scheme was so successful that a second Chipmunk with Captain David Friel was restored bearing the same markings and numbered 170. These two Chipmunks carried out many superb and very well received displays at many air shows both in Ireland and in the UK.

In the last two years the Chipmunks teamed up the Aer Lingus De Havilland “Iolar” and carried out first class displays at major air shows. The Iolar had been the subject of a major restoration and had been flying successfully in Ireland and abroad for many years.

To complete the IHF picture, a third Chipmunk, Number 168, from the Irish Air corps, has been undergoing restoration over the past year and has now completed restoration in time for the 2015 flight display season.

As a result we can look forward to a superb four ship formation consisting of “Iolar” with Chipmunks 168, 169 and 170 gracing the skies over Ireland and abroad in 2015 and beyond.