Prince Philip's first airplane still flying out of Wairarapa
Apr 14, 2021 7:58:35 GMT 12
obiwan27, ZacYates, and 1 more like this
Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 14, 2021 7:58:35 GMT 12
A great positive article here on Stuff featuring forum member Bevan Dewes. 
Prince Philip's first airplane still flying out of Wairarapa's Hood Aerodrome
Piers Fuller
05:00, Apr 14 2021
Every pilot has a special attachment to their first aircraft and that was no doubt the case with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip, who died on Friday aged 99, first earned his wings in a de Havilland Chipmunk two-seater that still frequently takes to the air over Wairarapa.
It's owner, Masterton pilot Bevan Dewes, 27, was a similar age to the duke when the then 30-year-old embarked on his training with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1952.
“It’s a huge privilege to be able to look after such a piece of history. I know I remember the first airplane that I flew with great fondness, and I’m sure Prince Philip would have felt the same about this aircraft, which is reflected in some of the correspondence that I have from him.”.
Masterton pilot Bevan Dewes and his 1952 de Havilland Chipmunk at Hood Aerodrome. It was the aircraft that Prince Philip learned to fly in.
The Chipmunk, now housed in a hangar at Hood Aerodrome, proudly bears the royal insignia and Dewes has pulled together a fascinating dossier of its former life, including letters from the prince.
The aircraft was well-known after its time as part of the Queen’s Flight unit and featured at airshows and in the aviation media of the time. It was retired from the RAF in 1972.
There was some disappointment in UK aviation circles when it was sold to overseas owners and shipped to the United States in 1974.
It was imported to New Zealand in 2004 and Dewes purchased a share of the aircraft in 2012 when he was just 18, and bought it outright a year later.
A newspaper clipping from the Daily Mail circa 1952 shows Prince Philip having a close look at the de Havilland Chipmunk he was set to begin his training in. He's pictured with Flight Lieutenant Caryl Gordon who was to be his instructor. The aircraft is now owned by Masterton pilot Bevan Dewes.
It has certainly not sat in the hangar gathering dust; Dewes has flown more than 550hrs in his beloved ‘’Chippy’’ in those nine years.
“When I bought it I didn’t know much about its history, but I did a lot of research and there was a surprising amount of information about it online.”
There was a lot of media interest in Prince Philip’s ambition to join the RAF and take up his flying training in 1952, and Dewe’s Chipmunk featured in some of that archival news footage.
A small unit was set up in the Home Command of the Royal Air Force specifically to train the duke.
PIERS FULLER/STUFF
The de Havilland Chipmunk N861WP at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton.
Dewes contacted Buckingham Palace in 2014 while researching the royal links to the aircraft.
Prince Philip’s personal archivist, Dame Anne Griffiths, sent Dewes information and a photograph on behalf of the duke.
The de Havilland Chipmunk N861WP proudly bears the royal insignia.
“His Royal Highness has asked me to send you with his best wishes this photograph of four RAF aircraft, including Chipmunk WP861, flying over Windsor Castle in or about 1953.”
The Wairarapa-based Chipmunk was one of two such aircraft the duke flew during the first phase of his training. The other aircraft WP912 is on display at the RAF Museum at Cosford.
Prince Philip sent a letter to a previous owner of Bevan Dewes' de Havilland Chipmunk aircraft talking about his experience in the trainer in the 1950s. The letter was dated 1977.
As well as original flying logs, Dewes has obtained a copy of a letter to a previous owner sent in 1977, signed by the prince himself.
He congratulated the new owner saying: “I hope it has not suffered too much from the 16 hours 35 minutes it was more or less under my control some 24 years ago. I hope it gives you many happy hours in the air.”
According to Royal.uk website, Prince Philip gained his RAF wings in 1953, his helicopter wings in 1956 and his private pilot's licence in 1959 notching up 5986 hours in 59 types of aircraft over his aviation career.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/124819084/prince-philips-first-airplane-still-flying-out-of-wairarapas-hood-aerodrome
Prince Philip's first airplane still flying out of Wairarapa's Hood Aerodrome
Piers Fuller
05:00, Apr 14 2021
Every pilot has a special attachment to their first aircraft and that was no doubt the case with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip, who died on Friday aged 99, first earned his wings in a de Havilland Chipmunk two-seater that still frequently takes to the air over Wairarapa.
It's owner, Masterton pilot Bevan Dewes, 27, was a similar age to the duke when the then 30-year-old embarked on his training with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1952.
“It’s a huge privilege to be able to look after such a piece of history. I know I remember the first airplane that I flew with great fondness, and I’m sure Prince Philip would have felt the same about this aircraft, which is reflected in some of the correspondence that I have from him.”.
Masterton pilot Bevan Dewes and his 1952 de Havilland Chipmunk at Hood Aerodrome. It was the aircraft that Prince Philip learned to fly in.
The Chipmunk, now housed in a hangar at Hood Aerodrome, proudly bears the royal insignia and Dewes has pulled together a fascinating dossier of its former life, including letters from the prince.
The aircraft was well-known after its time as part of the Queen’s Flight unit and featured at airshows and in the aviation media of the time. It was retired from the RAF in 1972.
There was some disappointment in UK aviation circles when it was sold to overseas owners and shipped to the United States in 1974.
It was imported to New Zealand in 2004 and Dewes purchased a share of the aircraft in 2012 when he was just 18, and bought it outright a year later.
A newspaper clipping from the Daily Mail circa 1952 shows Prince Philip having a close look at the de Havilland Chipmunk he was set to begin his training in. He's pictured with Flight Lieutenant Caryl Gordon who was to be his instructor. The aircraft is now owned by Masterton pilot Bevan Dewes.
It has certainly not sat in the hangar gathering dust; Dewes has flown more than 550hrs in his beloved ‘’Chippy’’ in those nine years.
“When I bought it I didn’t know much about its history, but I did a lot of research and there was a surprising amount of information about it online.”
There was a lot of media interest in Prince Philip’s ambition to join the RAF and take up his flying training in 1952, and Dewe’s Chipmunk featured in some of that archival news footage.
A small unit was set up in the Home Command of the Royal Air Force specifically to train the duke.
PIERS FULLER/STUFF
The de Havilland Chipmunk N861WP at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton.
Dewes contacted Buckingham Palace in 2014 while researching the royal links to the aircraft.
Prince Philip’s personal archivist, Dame Anne Griffiths, sent Dewes information and a photograph on behalf of the duke.
The de Havilland Chipmunk N861WP proudly bears the royal insignia.
“His Royal Highness has asked me to send you with his best wishes this photograph of four RAF aircraft, including Chipmunk WP861, flying over Windsor Castle in or about 1953.”
The Wairarapa-based Chipmunk was one of two such aircraft the duke flew during the first phase of his training. The other aircraft WP912 is on display at the RAF Museum at Cosford.
Prince Philip sent a letter to a previous owner of Bevan Dewes' de Havilland Chipmunk aircraft talking about his experience in the trainer in the 1950s. The letter was dated 1977.
As well as original flying logs, Dewes has obtained a copy of a letter to a previous owner sent in 1977, signed by the prince himself.
He congratulated the new owner saying: “I hope it has not suffered too much from the 16 hours 35 minutes it was more or less under my control some 24 years ago. I hope it gives you many happy hours in the air.”
According to Royal.uk website, Prince Philip gained his RAF wings in 1953, his helicopter wings in 1956 and his private pilot's licence in 1959 notching up 5986 hours in 59 types of aircraft over his aviation career.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/124819084/prince-philips-first-airplane-still-flying-out-of-wairarapas-hood-aerodrome
