No #9 Designed to replace the pre-war de Havilland Tiger Moth as a basic trainer, the Chipmunk was the first aircraft produced by the de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd., based at Downsview, Ontario and now part of Bombardier Aerospace. The fully aerobatic Chipmunk first flew in 1946 and soon became the primary trainer of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and many smaller air forces worldwide. Most Chipmunks were built by de Havilland in the UK, but more than 200 were built in Canada and 66 in Portugal. The Chipmunk became popular for recreational and agricultural flying, particularly after it was retired from RAF and RCAF service in the 1970s. Many still fly in the UK, Canada, Australia and the U.S.
