de Havilland Vampire T.11 Advanced Trainer Jet (WZ590) IWM Duxford.
This British 1950's Trainer version of the de Havilland Vampire Fighter was used to teach Student Pilots how to fly Jet Aircraft. The T. 11 was developed from the original Vampire Fighter, it entered service in 1952 and became the RAF's standard Advanced Trainer. Vampire T.11's were also issued to Fighter Squadrons as Communications Aircraft (for running errands between RAF Stations) and to check Pilot abilities.
The Vampire T.11 allowed Student Pilots to graduate from the Piston Engined Percival Provost T.1 Trainer to an Aircraft with the characteristics of a 'Jet Fighter' which included a Pressurised Cockpit, Ejector Seat and Armament of twin 20mm Cannons, plus Rockets and Bombs.
This de Havilland Vampire Aircraft WZ590 was delivered to RAF Leeming in 1953, it then went to No.5 Flying Training School (FTS) at RAF Oakington in 1959, and transferred to No.8 FTS at RAF Swinderby in 1962. It was donated to the Imperial War Museum Duxford by Hawker-Siddeley Aviation Limited in 1973.
The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter which was developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company, and was the second Jet Fighter to be operated by the RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and the first to be powered by a single Jet Engine.
Development of the Vampire as an experimental Aircraft began in 1941 during World War Two, to exploit the revolutionary innovation of jet propulsion. From the company's design studies, it was decided to use a Single-Engine, Twin-Boom Aircraft, powered by the Halford H.1 Turbojet (later produced as the Goblin) Aside from its Propulsion System and Twin-Boom Configuration, it was a relatively conventional Aircraft. In May 1944 it was decided to produce the Aircraft as an Interceptor for the Royal Air Force, in 1946 the Vampire entered operational service with the RAF, only months after the War had ended.
The Vampire quickly proved to be effective and was adopted as a replacement of Wartime Piston-Engined Fighter Aircraft. During its early service it accomplished several aviation firsts and achieved various records, such as being the first Jet Aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The Vampire remained in front-line RAF service until 1953 when its transfer began to secondary roles such as Ground Attack and Pilot Training, for which specialist variants were produced. The RAF retired the Vampire in 1966 when its final role of Advanced Trainer was filled by the Folland Gnat. The Royal Navy had also adapted the type as the 'Sea Vampire', a navalised variant suitable for operations from Aircraft Carriers. It was the service's first Jet Fighter.
The Vampire was exported to many nations and was operated worldwide in numerous Theatres and Climates. Several countries used the type in Combat including the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency and the Rhodesian Bush War. By the end of production, almost 3,300 Vampire's had been manufactured, a quarter of these having been manufactured under licence abroad. de Havilland pursued the further development of the type major derivatives produced include the DH.115, a specialised Dual-Seat Trainer and the more advanced DH.112 Venom, a refined variant for Ground Attack and Night-Fighter Operations.
▪︎Role: Fighter Aircraft / Advanced Trainer
▪︎National Origin: United Kingdom
▪︎Manufacturer: de Havilland / English Electric
▪︎First Flight: 20th September 1943
▪︎Introduction: 1946
▪︎Retired: 1979 Rhodesian Air Force
▪︎Status: Retired
▪︎Primary Users: Royal Air Force / Royal Navy
▪︎Number Built: 3,268
▪︎Developed Into: de Havilland Venom
▪︎Crew: One
▪︎Length: 30ft 9in
▪︎Wingspan: 38ft
▪︎Height: 8ft 10in
▪︎Empty Weight: 7,283lb
▪︎Maximum Weight: 12,390lb
▪︎Powerplant: 1 x de Havilland Goblin 3 Centrifugal-Flow Turbojet Engine, 3,350lbf thrust
▪︎Maximum Speed: 548mph
▪︎Range: 1,220 miles
▪︎Service Ceiling: 42,800ft
▪︎Weapons: 4 x 0.79in Hispano MK.V Cannon with 600 Rounds Total (150 rounds per gun)
▪︎Armament: 8 x 3in "60 lb" Rockets / 2 x 500lb Bombs or two Drop-Tanks.
de Havilland Vampire T.11 Advanced Trainer Jet (WZ590) IWM Duxford.
This British 1950's Trainer version of the de Havilland Vampire Fighter was used to teach Student Pilots how to fly Jet Aircraft. The T. 11 was developed from the original Vampire Fighter, it entered service in 1952 and became the RAF's standard Advanced Trainer. Vampire T.11's were also issued to Fighter Squadrons as Communications Aircraft (for running errands between RAF Stations) and to check Pilot abilities.
The Vampire T.11 allowed Student Pilots to graduate from the Piston Engined Percival Provost T.1 Trainer to an Aircraft with the characteristics of a 'Jet Fighter' which included a Pressurised Cockpit, Ejector Seat and Armament of twin 20mm Cannons, plus Rockets and Bombs.
This de Havilland Vampire Aircraft WZ590 was delivered to RAF Leeming in 1953, it then went to No.5 Flying Training School (FTS) at RAF Oakington in 1959, and transferred to No.8 FTS at RAF Swinderby in 1962. It was donated to the Imperial War Museum Duxford by Hawker-Siddeley Aviation Limited in 1973.
The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter which was developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company, and was the second Jet Fighter to be operated by the RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and the first to be powered by a single Jet Engine.
Development of the Vampire as an experimental Aircraft began in 1941 during World War Two, to exploit the revolutionary innovation of jet propulsion. From the company's design studies, it was decided to use a Single-Engine, Twin-Boom Aircraft, powered by the Halford H.1 Turbojet (later produced as the Goblin) Aside from its Propulsion System and Twin-Boom Configuration, it was a relatively conventional Aircraft. In May 1944 it was decided to produce the Aircraft as an Interceptor for the Royal Air Force, in 1946 the Vampire entered operational service with the RAF, only months after the War had ended.
The Vampire quickly proved to be effective and was adopted as a replacement of Wartime Piston-Engined Fighter Aircraft. During its early service it accomplished several aviation firsts and achieved various records, such as being the first Jet Aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The Vampire remained in front-line RAF service until 1953 when its transfer began to secondary roles such as Ground Attack and Pilot Training, for which specialist variants were produced. The RAF retired the Vampire in 1966 when its final role of Advanced Trainer was filled by the Folland Gnat. The Royal Navy had also adapted the type as the 'Sea Vampire', a navalised variant suitable for operations from Aircraft Carriers. It was the service's first Jet Fighter.
The Vampire was exported to many nations and was operated worldwide in numerous Theatres and Climates. Several countries used the type in Combat including the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency and the Rhodesian Bush War. By the end of production, almost 3,300 Vampire's had been manufactured, a quarter of these having been manufactured under licence abroad. de Havilland pursued the further development of the type major derivatives produced include the DH.115, a specialised Dual-Seat Trainer and the more advanced DH.112 Venom, a refined variant for Ground Attack and Night-Fighter Operations.
▪︎Role: Fighter Aircraft / Advanced Trainer
▪︎National Origin: United Kingdom
▪︎Manufacturer: de Havilland / English Electric
▪︎First Flight: 20th September 1943
▪︎Introduction: 1946
▪︎Retired: 1979 Rhodesian Air Force
▪︎Status: Retired
▪︎Primary Users: Royal Air Force / Royal Navy
▪︎Number Built: 3,268
▪︎Developed Into: de Havilland Venom
▪︎Crew: One
▪︎Length: 30ft 9in
▪︎Wingspan: 38ft
▪︎Height: 8ft 10in
▪︎Empty Weight: 7,283lb
▪︎Maximum Weight: 12,390lb
▪︎Powerplant: 1 x de Havilland Goblin 3 Centrifugal-Flow Turbojet Engine, 3,350lbf thrust
▪︎Maximum Speed: 548mph
▪︎Range: 1,220 miles
▪︎Service Ceiling: 42,800ft
▪︎Weapons: 4 x 0.79in Hispano MK.V Cannon with 600 Rounds Total (150 rounds per gun)
▪︎Armament: 8 x 3in "60 lb" Rockets / 2 x 500lb Bombs or two Drop-Tanks.