Chipmunk pax WG471

An interesting thread here about airfield snow clearing and several mentions of MRD’s ;
http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?1651-Airfield-Snow-Clearing&highlight=snow+clearing
Apologies again for thread drift !

I also remember seeing a snow clearing machine parked near 2 Hangar which consisted of a DH Goblin jet engine , or similar , mounted on a wheeled tractor unit but I never saw it being used in anger .
Apologies for the thread drift !

Sounds like either an MRD (twin Derwents) or a SnowBlow (single Derwent). I ran an MRD once, and it was quite a frightening experience. These things sat outside all year, got an annual anti-det run and on those occasions seemed to be on the verge of something catastrophic. We scrapped ours at Manston circa 1985 but I ‘liberated’ the engine plates. I wish I’d taken a few photos. Do any survive?

David – it’s moved on since then.

Listed as being with the Thameside Aviation Museum , East Tilbury in MAM 2014 .

Anyone seen her in their travels???

I found this Chippax with 11 AEF at RAF Leeming in c1977 . Being a keen air cadet and spotter/enthusiast/anorak I found the M number stamped inside the fuselage and probably by using the tahs ‘RAF Maintenance Serials’ book identified it as WG471 and got it listed in the 6th edition of Wrecks & Relics in 1978 !
It remained with 11 AEF until c1988 , and W&R 11 ! , when it was reported as moving to Stowmarket . Around this time Leeming became a Tornado base and 11 AEF moved from 2 Hangar into huts near 5 Hangar and I suspect that as space was at a premium the cockpit was disposed of plus the AEF’s were now flying Bulldogs and not Chipmunks ?
I also remember seeing a snow clearing machine parked near 2 Hangar which consisted of a DH Goblin jet engine , or similar , mounted on a wheeled tractor unit but I never saw it being used in anger .
Apologies for the thread drift !