De Havilland Chipmunk marks 80th anniversary at Hamilton warplane museum

Visitors to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope were treated to a special gathering of vintage military aircraft Saturday.

The museum’s annual Warbird Fly-In marked the 80th anniversary of the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk.

The one-day event featured more than 30 visiting aircraft, including 11 Chipmunks that flew in from across Ontario, Saskatchewan and the United States.

Museum spokesperson Emily Mascitti said the Chipmunk has a special place in Canadian aviation history. 

“Today is special because it’s a celebration of the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk and the 80th anniversary of its first flight,” she said. “It was built in Downsview, Toronto.”

The Chipmunk first flew in May 1946 and later became a key training aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Pilot and aircraft restorer Dan Garyfalakis flew his 1956 Chipmunk from Grand Valley, Ont. He has owned the aircraft for eight years.

“It was used by our air force to do advanced training, and it’s a beautiful airplane,” he said. “They call it the ‘poor man’s Spitfire’ because it flies beautifully.”

The fly-in also welcomed a fleet of Fairchild Cornell aircraft from the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation.

Pilot Shawn Clisch said the Cornell served as the primary elementary trainer before the Chipmunk entered Royal Canadian Air Force service.

Visitors also gathered along the runway to watch the museum’s Lancaster perform several flybys before landing to cheers from the crowd.

“Everybody loves to see her fly; she’s one of only two flying in the whole world,” Mascitti said.

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