First Of Its Kind: Rick Ksander's R3600 Powered Dehavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
Rick Writes:
Click on any blue boarder thumbnails to enlarge...
I've been interested in aviation since I got my sailplane license and soloed at age 15 here near Toronto Canada. I spent many hours fly the Club 2-22 and Gruna Baby. My father was a keen sailplane pilot for many years as well flying his Polish Jantar high performance fiberglass glider until he passed away in 1990.
I Left the sport for a number of years to get thru University (structural engineering) , marriage, kids and life in general. Finally had time and money to get back into it about 10 years ago. See me with my latest project in photo#1
Always liked to work with my hands so I tried my luck building a S-2a motorglider. Got about 50% completed when a very well priced Russian self-launcher became available and I sold the S2a project. Kept the Russian ship for about 5 years and then started building an Rv-9 airplane which I still own and have logged 200 hours on it so far. About 2 years ago started building a Xenos motorglider from the Sonex people. Its now about 75% completed.
I have always been a fan of vintage cars and airplanes and I still drive an Austin Healey (click on thumbnail to enlarge) and MGB and Norton Command motorcycle.
Last winter (2011) I started doing research on the Dehavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk military trainer. I fell in love with its rich history and the fact that it was designed and conceived in my home town of Toronto Canada.
In April 2011, made the plunge to purchase an example from South Carolina in the US. The original Gypsy Major engine was removed years ago and an old Lycoming installed instead.
Since the Lycoming was not repairable and I didn't like the look of it on the Chipmunk I started searching for an replacement. I narrowed the engine choice to another Gypsy Major, a Walter-Lom, a Jacobs radial or Rotec R3600 radial.
Considering after sales service and availability of parts and modern design I went with the Rotec.
We ordered the Rotec in April and received it in December.
This Dehavilland Chipmunk Mk 20 (Serial #C1-0678 Fuselage # F539) was built in 1952 in Britain and used by the Burmese air Force until 1979 and flown 2299 hours. It was one of three imported to the US from Burma in the 1990's. Restored and re-configured with a Lycoming no 1995 and put into the US experimental category by Rober Barber. .Imported to Canada by myself in April 2011 and remains in the Canadian amateur built category. The photos on the left show the Chipmunk with the Lyc and flying the plane after the purchase.
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From: Rick Ksander Just doing a trial fit-up of the metal nose cowling. The fellows didn't go for our idea of using Adel clamps on the Rocker hoses. They want to change to longer rocker cover bolts and use them to attach custom made brackets to the nose cowling. Regards Rick |
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From: Rick Ksander We didn't think it was a good idea to have flames splashing against the Aux fuel tank so we cranked the exhaust tips to the side. Regards,Rick |
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| 24th Feb 2012 Rick Writes: Heres the latest photos. Engine permanently mounted. Engine mount powder coated. Mount cowling installed and primed. Oil tank installed. Wiring started. TBI installed with primer button air filter box and carb heat. Aux fuel tank installed. New skyview glass panels installed. Regards - Rick |
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Currently (Late January 2012) making the new cowling and installing the engine hook-ups. Hopefully first engine run will be at end of February. 80" wood prop is currently on order. Stay tuned for the latest news on our exciting "radical" Chipmunk. |
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| By December 2011 the Rotec arrived with its pre-manufactured mount and was immediately installed for a mock-up cowling fitting. Note the unusually long engine mount of 33.3" in length due to the unusually light weight and short engine compared to the original 140 HP Gypsy major engine. | ||
(2011) Once flying permits were obtained we immediately removed the Lycoming and waited for our new Rotec radial to arrive.