Chilton

Chilton Aircraft Ltd was a British aircraft design and manufacturing company of the late 1930s.

The company was founded in early 1937 by two ex de Havilland Technical School students, the Hon. Andrew Dalrymple and A.R. Ward. It established a small factory at Chilton Foliat, near Hungerford in Berkshire, from which location the firm's name was derived.

The founders designed a very small, low-powered, but fast, sporting monoplane, designated the Chilton D.W.1. The aircraft had a very clean aerodynamic design, which required split flaps to lower the landing speed. The Carden Ford 32 h.p. gave it a declared top speed of 112 mph, but during racing, 129 mph was eventually reached. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilton_Aircraft

Chilton DW 1

Click for Chilton DW 1 sound recordings page

The first three aircraft were powered by the 32 h.p. Carden Ford automobile water-cooled engine, 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[4] 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. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilton_D.W.1

The DW1 is still being built today by a group of dedicated enthusiasts.

Chilton DW 1, G-AESZ, June 2009

Recording of Chilton DW 1, G-AESZ, Old Warden, June 2009. G-AESZ Constructors number No.DW1/1