| As a result of sales tours and demonstrations by 'DIO-X,a further
three DHC-1 models, numbers 18,19 & 20 were imported during June 1947 to
fulfill an order for Loxhams Flying Services Ltd. of Squires Gate,
Blackpool. Only one of these c/n 18 was in fact registered to that
company as G-AKCS during August of 1947, delivery taking place on
September 8th. from Witney. It remained in service at Blackpool until
early 1950 when it was sold to the Royal Aero Club of N.S.W.Registered
in October of that year as VH-AFR, it crashed at Narrandera N.S.W.on
28.12.54 and was written off.
The other two machines remained in storage for a very lengthy period
until delivery to Force Aeriene Belge (Belgium Air Force) during
November 1948, where they were used at Gossoncourt for evaluation until
February 1952. Serialled C1 & C2 respectively, the contract for a
training aircraft was eventually awarded to the locally built SV-4B
Stampe biplane. Both machines were subsequently sold to the Royal
Antwerp Aviation Club and registered during December 1955 as OO-PHS &
OO-MER respectively. OO-MER was the first to receive a C of A on
14th. May 1956 and survived until the controls jammed and the aircraft
crashed near Massenhoven, Holland on January 4th. 1965. Stablemate 'PHS
was certificated on November 8th. 1956 and crashed during take off at
Seppe, Holland on September 19th. 1970 - both aircraft remained in
service at Antwerp throughout.
The fitment of the Gipsy Major Ten engine was first accomplished in
'JVD in mid 1947 and flown in the experimental or special category.It
overcame the criticism levelled at the early aircraft, as reported in
flight tests in the popular aviation press, of being easy to exceed the
permitted rpm. Also with the change came the availability of a 24 volt
electrical system, plus starter, generator and vacuum pump which allowed
the venturi to be removed from the forward starboard fuselage.
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The cockpits of an early chipmink, showing the positioning of both sets of magneto switches on the port side of the separating bulkhead, where they were accessible from the front cockpit. This feature was eliminated from the UK version. A placard at the panel apex states that the cockpit canopy must be open during take-off and landing.
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