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Groups of stories handpicked by the team at Ingenium

Aviation Ambassador

by David Gillespie

25 Stories:

Ken Large and Dave with KDN. A changing of the guard.

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 24

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

One last peek at KDN, blurred by tears, and I closed the door. It was hard to walk away. As I travel at close to KDN’s cruise speed on a train back to Finmere I have a few hours to reflect on 14 years of flying her. It’s odd that a machine can have such an impact on so many people all over the world. KDN has earned her place in aviation history with her own story, but it is really the people connected with her that makes her so special to me. Over the years we have been able to get to know many

KDN on display at the Freddy March Spirit of Aviation Display

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 23

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

WOW! That is the lasting impression of KDN’s visit to the Goodwood Revival last weekend. To be invited to take part in the prestigious Freddy March Spirit of Aviation Display, was a once in a lifetime opportunity. With her racing numbers on, KDN fit right in as we landed on the famous grass runway, surrounded by the unique historical Goodwood Race Track. It was the start of three memorable days. KDN was greeted and put on prominent display among two dozen rare and diverse vintage aircraft. We

KDN. A proud history of racing

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 22

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

The rain is pounding the metal hangar roof making it hard to hear each other talk. We are preparing KDN for the weekend of racing. She is wearing her number 54 and sporting a handsome Royal Aero Club decal. One hundred miles away at the race course, the 1000’ hills are hidden in the low clouds that are being driven along by a gusty wind. The forecast is not good for Saturday for the running of the Stewards Cup. We must fly this race to qualify to enter the Kings Cup which is scheduled to run on

Pat Fillingham holding The Kings Cup with Sonja at his side. 1953

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 21

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

The slim streamlined silver Chipmunk G-AKDN streaked across the finish line winning the 1953 Kings Cup Air Race at a speed of 140 mph. Piloted by deHavilland test pilot Pat Fillingham with his wife Sonja navigating. Now 63 years later KDN wearing it’s wining race number 54, is reunited with her Navigator Sonja Fillingham and the original Kings Cup Trophy! Karen and I have flown KDN to Kemble Airfield on the Eastern side of The Cotswolds for the Kings Cup reunion. There are many other aircraft

Somehow the Hurricane escaped my bulletts and boldly taxied in ahead of KDN

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 20

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

The Hurricane was a sitting duck as he lowered his landing gear. I got as close as safely able and pointed my airplane directly at it and just enjoyed the experience for a moment. He started pulling away from me so I pressed the button on my control column and said out loud ‘tac-a-tac-a-tac- a-tac”. I was shooting imaginary bullets but my words went out over the radio for all to hear. I was on final approach to the famous Farnborough Airshow and flying number two behind the famous Hawker

KDN over the runway numbers landing at RIAT.

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 19

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

I wasn’t sure if I should bow, kneel, or step back, as HRH Prince George, the future King of England approached me. So I just stood my ground, smiled and said “hi’ to him and his parents, as I held the shutter down on my iPhone. Prince William and Princess Catherine had brought George to the Royal International Air Tattoo. KDN had also been invited to attend the event in honour of the Chipmunk 70th Anniversary. Seeing the Royals inspecting the Chipmunk was a highlight. The planning for our

WW1 BE2c biplane, part of the fantastic Great War Display Team. Right at home on this vintage aerodrome.

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 18

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

We’ve flown back in time and have landed KDN in a field of dreams! Open grass stretching out in all directions welcoming us to land anywhere we wanted. All this open space made it hard to judge our landing drift, but we settled onto the field and taxied over to the tie down area filled with a line of Tiger Moths and a Spitfire. The ramp area behind the aircraft was filled with cars of the same vintage and older. Looks like we’ve landed in about 1942. I knew KDN was a time machine! This field is

KDN over the airfield turn featured on the cover of the Royal Aero Club publication.

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 17

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Diving for the race finish line Karen and I are being passed by a gaggle of aircraft only meters away that appear to be going twice as fast as us. But this is Royal Aero Club handicap air racing and the fastest airplane may not be the winner. KDN last air raced in the early fifties and won the Kings Cup over some much faster aircraft. If only I could fly as well as deHavilland test pilot Pat Fillingham, and if only Karen could navigate as well as Pat’s wife Sonja. We’re just thrilled to be a

KDN at her beautiful summer base at Finmere Aerodrome.

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 16

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

I arrived at Bagby aerodrome to find KDN sitting in a hangar ready to fly. Graham and crew had done a great job reassembling her and with new Plexiglas windows installed in the refurbished canopy she looked fantastic. After a few local test flights I departed and flew the 150 miles south to our summer base at Finmere Aerodrome. It was an emotional flight. Flying over the UK countryside in KDN was like travelling back in time. The sky, the view, the airplane, hadn’t changed much since KDN flew

KDN on display in the Bombardier Delivery Hangar.

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 15

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. I am flying KDN home across the beautiful Canada north, with a very heavy heart. James is not with me. He has died after a courageous battle with cancer. KDN had been proudly on display in the Bombardier delivery Hangar for two years. Customers for the Bombardier aircraft love seeing it tucked under the wing of the latest aircraft off the production line. We continued to keep the annual inspections current with Graham’s help, as well as fly

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