De Havilland Vampire G-HELV - Explored!
This former Swiss Air Force aircraft is now part of the stable at Air Atlantique. Seen banking during its display at the British Army Air Corps' Wallop '08 air show.
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was the second British jet-engined fighter commissioned during WWII although it was not used in combat. The Vampire design was also developed into the de Havilland Venom fighter-bomber as well as naval Sea Vampire variants. The Vampire was considered to be a largely experimental design due to its unorthodox arrangement and the use of a single engine, unlike the Gloster Meteor which was always specified for production.
The low-powered early British jet engine types meant that only twin-engine aircraft designs were considered practical; but as more powerful engines were developed, a single-engined jet fighter became more viable. The use of a twin boom kept the jet pipe short which avoided the power loss of a long pipe that would have been needed in a conventional fuselage. The first flew on its maiden flight on 20 September 1943 from Hatfield, just six months after the Meteor's maiden flight but the production Vampire Mk I did not fly until April 1945, with most being built by English Electric Aircraft due to the pressures on de Havilland's production facilities which were busy with other types. Although eagerly taken into service by the RAF, it was still being developed at war's end, and consequently never saw combat.
A total of 3,268 Vampires were built in 15 versions, including a twin-seat night fighter, trainer and carrier-based aircraft designated Sea Vampire, being used by some 31 air forces. Germany, Spain and the US were the only major Western powers not to use the aircraft type. The Vampire was a versatile aircraft, setting many aviation firsts and records, being the first RAF fighter with a top speed exceeding 500 mph, the first jet to take off from and land on an aircraft carrier and in 1948, a new world altitude record of 18,119m.
In post-war service, the RAF employed the Meteor as an interceptor and the Vampire as a ground-attack fighter-bomber (although their roles probably should have been reversed). The RAF eventually relegated the Vampire to advanced training roles in the mid-1950s and the type was generally out of RAF service by the end of the decade. Rhodesia operated Vampires until the end of the bush war in 1979. After 30 years' service they were the last Vampires used on operations anywhere in the world.
De Havilland Vampire G-HELV - Explored!
This former Swiss Air Force aircraft is now part of the stable at Air Atlantique. Seen banking during its display at the British Army Air Corps' Wallop '08 air show.
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was the second British jet-engined fighter commissioned during WWII although it was not used in combat. The Vampire design was also developed into the de Havilland Venom fighter-bomber as well as naval Sea Vampire variants. The Vampire was considered to be a largely experimental design due to its unorthodox arrangement and the use of a single engine, unlike the Gloster Meteor which was always specified for production.
The low-powered early British jet engine types meant that only twin-engine aircraft designs were considered practical; but as more powerful engines were developed, a single-engined jet fighter became more viable. The use of a twin boom kept the jet pipe short which avoided the power loss of a long pipe that would have been needed in a conventional fuselage. The first flew on its maiden flight on 20 September 1943 from Hatfield, just six months after the Meteor's maiden flight but the production Vampire Mk I did not fly until April 1945, with most being built by English Electric Aircraft due to the pressures on de Havilland's production facilities which were busy with other types. Although eagerly taken into service by the RAF, it was still being developed at war's end, and consequently never saw combat.
A total of 3,268 Vampires were built in 15 versions, including a twin-seat night fighter, trainer and carrier-based aircraft designated Sea Vampire, being used by some 31 air forces. Germany, Spain and the US were the only major Western powers not to use the aircraft type. The Vampire was a versatile aircraft, setting many aviation firsts and records, being the first RAF fighter with a top speed exceeding 500 mph, the first jet to take off from and land on an aircraft carrier and in 1948, a new world altitude record of 18,119m.
In post-war service, the RAF employed the Meteor as an interceptor and the Vampire as a ground-attack fighter-bomber (although their roles probably should have been reversed). The RAF eventually relegated the Vampire to advanced training roles in the mid-1950s and the type was generally out of RAF service by the end of the decade. Rhodesia operated Vampires until the end of the bush war in 1979. After 30 years' service they were the last Vampires used on operations anywhere in the world.