#1276 DH84 Dragon, DHC-1 Chipmunk
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Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1276 - DH84 Dragon, DHC-1 Chipmunk, Irish Historic Flight (Eitilt Stairiúil na hÉireann).
When the first “Iolar” took to the skies from Baldonnel Airfield in 1936, it heralded the founding of Aer Lingus as the national airline of Ireland. The independent Irish state was less than two decades old at the time and so the “Iolar”was more than just an aircraft; it symbolised the birth of civil aviation for an emerging nation. The beautifully restored de Havilland DH84 was completed in time for the 75th Anniversary of the airline in 2011 and has been proudly displaying at home and overseas since. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers who have maintained and flown her over the decades and represents an important piece of Irish aviation history. This year the “Iolar” will be joined by two DHC-1 Chipmunks of the Irish Historic Flying Group representing 169 & 170 as delivered to the Irish Air Corps in 1952. Celebrating over 50 years of pilot cadet training, the Chipmunk was used to train Aer Lingus pilot cadets from 1963 to 1968 under an agreement with the Irish Air Corps. As one of the most successful training aircraft ever, the Chipmunk holds a formative place in Irish aviation history. Introduced in the early 1950s, it redefined pilot training at the time and a generation of highly professional Irish aviation personnel was produced as a result. Many senior post holders in the Irish Air Corps, Irish airlines and the Irish Aviation Authority have close bonds with the type. Together, the three aircraft are to tour this year as a most distinctive Irish Historic Flight.
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