Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 42 seconds.
In the past decade, John Sims has enjoyed breathing new life into old DHC-1 Chipmunks. Based near Toronto, John has refurbished five Chipmunks and a Slingsby T-67C Firefly since 2002.
His first project, ex-RCAF Chipmunk 18074, was rescued from a barn near Okotoks, Alta. Made flight worthy, Sims ferried 074 back to Ontario and entrusted Maurice Nesbitt’s crew at Corporate Aircraft Restorations (CAR) in Oshawa, Ont., to completely restore the airframe. Since that time, CAR has been contracted to work on every Chipmunk Sims has owned. Registered CF-BXG, 18074 was sold in 2005 to Canadian actor Paul Soles, who flew the aircraft with his son until 2008, when it was sold to Robert Fassold. The aircraft is now based in Valencia, Calif., with a new owner.
Sims’ second project was ex-RCAF Chipmunk 18052 CF-BXH, which he flew from Saskatoon, Sask., to CAR in Oshawa in 2005 for a complete restoration. It was then sold to its current owner, Fred Thompson, who flies it regularly in Ontario.
The next Chipmunk project was ex-RCAF 18019, registered CF-CYN, which Sims purchased from the Lacombe family in Mascouche, Que., in 2010. Sims restored the airframe to the early RCAF polished metal with yellow bands scheme, which the airframe wore while flying at RCAF Station Centralia. This aircraft is currently located in the Tulsa, Okla., area.
The fourth Chipmunk purchased by Sims was an ex-Portuguese Air Force DHC-1 Mk22. The airframe, imported from England and registered G-CDWF, arrived at CAR wearing a tired RAF paint scheme. Registered in Canada as C-GDWF, it was meticulously restored to its original Portuguese markings and was a real eye-catcher. Before being sold by Sims in 2011 to an owner in Australia, he removed the military markings and applied a smart looking civilian paint scheme that incorporated the PAF markings.
In 2012, Sims purchased British-built DHC-1 Mk20 Chipmunk from an estate auction in South Carolina. The airframe was built for the Royal Danish Air Force in 1950 and flew as P-124. The RDAF retired the Chipmunks in 1977 and the airframe was sold to a buyer in the United States. Sims had CAR remove the heavily repainted Royal Danish Air Force markings, and has finished the airframe to represent RCAF 18003, one of three Chipmunks the RCAF bought to evaluate as a replacement for the Tiger Moth in 1949. Finished in polished metal with yellow trim, Sims reports it is the nicest Chipmunk he has flown, and he vows to keep it for a much longer period.
The original 18003 was a DHC-1A-1 Chipmunk taken on strength by the RCAF on April 1, 1948, at the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at Rivers Camp, Man. The aircraft served with No. 444 AOP Squadron, No. 3 Flying Training School at RCAF Station Claresholm, Alta., and RCAF Station Centralia, before being struck off strength in 1959. The airframe still flies today as a heavily modified Super Chipmunk, registered N540FM, and owned by Jim Maroncy.
In 2011, Sims strayed away from Chipmunks and purchased a Slingsby T67C Firefly from a U.S. owner. The aircraft is s/n 2084 that operated out of CFB Portage under contract with the Canadian Armed Forces, training NATO pilots. From 1992-2003 Canadiar/Bombardier leased 12 Fireflys to the CAF. When disposed of, all airframes went to a U.S. owner. Sims had the paint scheme restored to the markings it wore while in Canada, except for the registration as it was already taken. This airframe is now registered C-GSTY.
Sims, who began flying at age 16 with the Air Cadets, flew his first Chipmunks when he joined the RAF. He reports that he has enjoyed restoring the Chipmunks, and meeting owners, historians, and enthusiasts from around the world.
