Chilton D.W.1
| Chilton D.W.1 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| The 1939-built Chilton D.W.1A at Leeds (Yeadon) Airport in May 1955 during the national air races | |
| Role | Light sporting monoplane |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Chilton Aircraft Limited |
| Designer | Andrew Dalrymple and A.R.Ward |
| First flight | April 1937 |
| Introduction | 1937 |
| Status | two flying in 2005 |
| Primary user | private owners |
| Number built | 4 prewar, plus 3 under amateur construction postwar |
The Chilton D.W.1 is a British light sporting monoplane designed and built in the late 1930s by Chilton Aircraft at Hungerford, Berkshire.
The Chilton D.W.1 was designed and built on the Chilton Lodge estate at Leverton near Hungerford in Berkshire in early 1937 by two ex de Havilland Technical School students who formed Chilton Aircraft Limited for the purpose. The aircraft was intended to be cheap to build and operate, yet have an exceptional performance on low power. This was derived from its aerodynamically clean design with an all-wood airframe with plywood skin. Only the control surfaces and the trailing edge of the wing behind the rear spar were fabric covered. The wing also carried trailing edge split flaps. The undercarriage was enclosed in trouser fairings and a cabin top could be fitted.
The first three aircraft were powered by the 32 h.p. Carden-Ford, a water-cooled automobile engine that had been lightened and modified for aircraft use. Initial flight trials with the prototype G-AESZ were made by Ranald Porteous at Witney airfield in April 1937, revealing that some minor modifications were needed to the engine and propeller. The first public appearance was made at Southend Airport on 4 September 1937. The second and third aircraft were completed and sold in 1938. The final aircraft was completed in July 1939 and was powered by the new French-built 44 h.p. Train 4T four-cylinder inverted inline air-cooled engine. This aircraft (G-AFSV) was designated the D.W.1A, and the Hon. A.W.H. Dalrymple flew it in the Folkestone Aero Trophy Race at Lympne on 5 August 1939, winning at an average speed of 126 mph.
All four Chiltons survived the Second World War. The D.W.1A G-AFSV broke the 100 km international closed circuit record at 124.5 mph at Lympne airfield on 31 August 1947, flown by Ranald Porteus. The last three Chiltons were flown in U.K. air races for several years. The cleaned-up third aircraft won the Daily Express air race at Shoreham Airport on 22 September 1951 at an average speed of 129 mph.
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