de Havilland Venom

The de Havilland DH112 Venom (or Sea Venom ) was a einstrahliges fighter aircraft of the British manufacturer de Havilland Aircraft Company. She was a further development of the DH100 Vampire. The first flight took place on September 2, 1949.

History

As the end of 1945 de Havilland new H.2 Ghost jet engine for the first time a static thrust of 22.3 kN (5000 lbst ) reached, you took the decision to the DH To revise 100 Vampires and replace the H.1 Goblin engine of the vampires. So the Ghost engine was already built in the fifth series vampires who flew on 8 May 1947 and the first time on March 23, 1948 ( 59 446 ft) a new height world record. The record flight led by de Havilland Chief Test Pilot John Cunningham. This machine, a Vampire F.1 with the RAF serial number TG 278, was awarded to a span magnification by 2.44 m (8 ft).

De Havilland suggested as Vampire FB.8 or " thin wing - Vampire " (thin -wing Vampires) called Ghost variant as an interim solution until the availability of the provided as Vampire detachment Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift before. According to this proposal, the Air Ministry wrote the specification E.15/49, which laid down the technical requirements. After the detailed design phase it became clear that the machine would be very different from the vampires and they subsequently received the designation DH112.

In February 1949, two of English Electric in license -produced Vampire airframes in the de Havilland factory in Hatfield transported there and equipped as a prototype of the DH112, which was from then on the additional name " Venom ". After six months, the first rolling tests could begin and the first flight will be conducted on September 2, 1949. After testing at Armament Experimental Establishment Aeroplane & both prototypes went back to de Havilland and were modified to address the identified deficiencies such as rudder flutter at Mach 0.81, high control forces, inadequate air brakes, etc..

Between July 8, 1949 and the February 28, 1951 received de Havilland, divided into three contracts, contracts for the construction of a total of 375 Venom FB.1. Two more orders for 162 FB.1 were canceled again before the start of construction.

Construction

To simplify the design, the design of the Venom was based essentially on the vampires. The wing, however, was developed from scratch; she received a leading-edge sweep of 17 ° while the trailing edge was straight. The thickness ratio was 10 % by 4 percentage points lower than that of the vampires. The wing was so reinforced that the carrying of droppable 340 -liter (75 - Imp.gal. ) Tragflächenendtanks ( wingtip tanks) was possible. The Venom was the only RAF fighter which was ever equipped with such tanks.

As with the Vampire, the four 20- mm Hispano Mk.V cannons in the lower nose were also built into the Venom and the hanging for the discharge weapons also were in the middle between the wings. The fuselage pod of the Vampire FB.5 was also retained, which meant that even in the Venom no ejection seat could be used. The rear part, who received the engine, but had to be redesigned because the Ghost engine compared to the Goblin had a 7.5 cm larger diameter and a 53 cm greater length. Thereby, the air intakes in the wing root had to be redesigned. The tail part corresponded initially completely the vampires, but was in the course of development significantly redesigned.

Variants

For the armed forces of the United Kingdom following models were developed:

The following versions were intended exclusively for export:

Aquilon 20: Final assembly of the parts supplied by de Havilland.
Aquilon 202: two-seater with ejection seats, air conditioning, and American AN/APQ-65-Radar.
Aquilon 203: fire, single with AN/APQ-94-Radar, and the possibility of air - to-air missiles.
Aquilon 204: Two-seat unarmed trainer aircraft.

Military user

Australia Australia

France France

Iraq 1963 Iraq
Italy Italy
Jordan Jordan
New Zealand New Zealand
Sweden Sweden
Switzerland Switzerland
Venezuela Venezuela
United Kingdom United Kingdom

RAF, 2nd Tactical Air Force RAF Celle, from January 1954 to October 1957, Venom FB1 (16th, 94th and 145th Squadron )
RAF Fassberg, from January 1954 to May 1955, Venom FB1 (14th, 98th and 118th Squadron ), from September 1955 to October 1956, Venom FB4 (5th, 11th and 266th Squadron )
RAF Wunstorf, from August 1951 to November 1955 and from October 1956 to October 1957, Venom FB1 / FB4 (5th, 11th and 266th Squadron )

The last machine in military use was made in 1983 by the Swiss Air Force decommissioned. Chance of aircraft of this type are still in use at air shows.

Specifications

Arming

Four 20 -mm cannons Hispano Mk V
Eight 27- kg missiles and either
Two 227 kg or 454 kg bombs

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