The de Havilland Chipmunk first flew on 22 May 1946 and from the late 1940s, becoming the RAF’s primary trainer aircraft. Although still used, the RAF now also have the Prefect.
The Prefect aims to provide Elementary Flying Training for students with the foundation of core level flying skills for their future military flying careers, as well as enable them to qualify for Fast-Jet lead-in, Rotary or Multi-Engine specialist training.
The RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has two Chipmunks, invaluable for training fighter pilots to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes as they have the same tailwheel landing gear – two wheels at the front and one at the back – as opposed to the ‘tricycle’ formation of modern aircraft. It has a two-seat tandem cockpit and is powered by a de Havilland Gypsy Major engine.
For now, the Prefect is the next-generation elementary training aircraft, which was named in honour of the Avro single-engine biplane trainer used by RAF pilots before and during the Second World War. Designed to the latest safety standards, it offers an ideal training platform for new students to learn general handling, spinning, stalling, aerobatic and navigation skills.
The Prefect Facts:
- Side-by-side twin-seat training aircraft
- Powered by a Rolls-Royce M250 turboprop 456hp engine
- Can sustain ‘G’ forces from -4G through to +6G
- Top speed of 238 knots (274 mph)
- Maximum altitude – 25,000ft
