de Havilland Vampire

The de Havilland Vampire DH100/113/115 (originally also: Spidercrab ) was a einstrahliges fighter aircraft of the British manufacturer de Havilland Aircraft Company. While it was still operational in the final stages of World War II, but took no further part in hostilities.

A total of 4400 machines were built for many customers, of which about 1100 under license. Vampire remained in Britain until 1955, when a training aircraft until 1966 ( in Switzerland until 1990) in use. In the 1950s, she also flew in units of the RAF Germany.

  • 3.1 stationing locations in Germany

History

The development started initially as an experimental aircraft in the summer of 1942, according to the specification E.6/41. The first flight of the prototype with the identifier LZ548 / G took place on September 30, 1943 and was jun by Geoffrey de Havilland. performed. Flight testing was delayed, as the only available engine had to be sent to the U.S. to replace the damaged one local engine of the Lockheed P-80. Due to the utilization of de Havilland with other types of aircraft, the serial production in additional delays, so that the first machine of the production series Mk I launched its maiden flight in April 1945.

The machine showed very good performance and handling characteristics. As the first British model, it reached a top speed of over 500 miles per hour (about 806 km / h ). Landed on 3 December 1945 and launched it as the first jet engine powered aircraft from an aircraft carrier (HMS Ocean ). In 1948 she reached a new height record of 18,119 m.

Based on the positive tests, a special version was developed for the Fleet Air Arm with the DH100 Mk.5 Sea Vampire. In addition to her role as a fighter, the Sea Vampire could be used as a ground-attack aircraft.

The DH113 was incurred in 1949, originally for certain two-seat night fighter Egypt with corresponding radar equipment. On this basis, the training aircraft DH115 arose.

The last version produced was the training aircraft DH100 Mk.11, which from 1950 was used, and have been produced by the more than 600 pieces.

Construction

The single-seat, mid-wing unswept was produced in a mixed construction made ​​of wood / metal, similar to the de Havilland Mosquito. It was equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear and was powered by a jet engine. Characteristic were the twin tail booms.

Variants

The following series have been developed for the air forces of the United Kingdom and some other nations:

The following series have been developed for the use of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy:

The following series developed for the armed forces of the two major South Pacific Commonwealth countries:

The last series were exports to other NATO countries:

Vampire Mk3

Vampire Mk5

Vampire NF10

Vampire Mk6

Vampire Mk5

SNCASE Mistral

SNCASE Mistral

User

  • India India
  • Indonesia Indonesia: 6x T.11
  • Iraq 1959 Iraq
  • Ireland Ireland
  • Italy Italy
  • Japan Japan: 1x T.55 for evaluation in 1955
  • Jordan Jordan
  • Canada 1921 Canada
  • Katanga Katanga: 2 ex Portugal T.11
  • Lebanon Lebanon
  • Mexico Mexico
  • New Zealand New Zealand
  • Norway Norway
  • Austria Austria: 4x 5x T.11 T.55 from 1964 to 1972 and from 1957 to 1971
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Congo Republic of Congo
  • Rhodesia Rhodesia
  • Sweden Sweden: 70 x F.1 ( J 28A), 310 FB.50 ( J 28B ); 57 T.55 ( J 28C)
  • Switzerland Switzerland
  • South Africa Union of South Africa 1928
  • Syria 1961 Syria
  • Venezuela 1930 Venezuela
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Stationing locations in Germany

  • Royal Air Force Germany RAF Bruggen, from July 1953 to January 1954, Vampire FB5 ( 112 Squadron )
  • RAF Celle, from November 1950 to January 1954, ( 93 and 94 Squadron )
  • RAF Gütersloh, from June 1948 to April 1952, vampires F1/FB5 (3rd, 16th, 26th, 67th and 71st Squadron )
  • RAF Fassberg, from May 1951 to May 1953, Vampire FB5 ( 112th and 118th Squadron )
  • RAF Jever, from March 1952 to July 1953, Vampire FB5 ( 4, 93 and 112 Squadron )
  • RAF Oldenburg, from May 1952 to November 1953, vampires FB5/FB9 ( 20, 26, and 234 Squadron )
  • RAF wild Rath, from April 1952 to October 1953, Vampire FB5 (3rd, 67th and 71st Squadron )
  • RAF Wunstorf, April-June 1948 Vampire F1 (3rd Squadron ) and from January 1950 to October 1953, vampires FB5/FB5B ( 4th, 11th, 26th Squadron )
  • BA Bremgarten, from April 1954 to July 1954, Vampire Mk.1 ( 4ème Escadre Chasse )
  • BA Friedrichshafen, from October 1949 to April 1954, Vampire Mk.1 ( 4ème Escadre Chasse )

Technical data ( Vampire FB 5)

Others

Because the machine is tilted in tight cornering flight to rollover, occurred in the Swiss Air Force to several fatal accidents. Therefore, gradually all machines received an ejection seat. With the not yet converted "Vampires " were allowed to fly only unmarried pilots.

Museale reception

  • A de Havilland DH 115 Vampire Mk.T55 the Austrian Armed Forces is issued in the military air show in Zeltweg in Hangar 8 of the airbase Hinterstoisser, a branch of the Vienna Museum of Military History.
HMS Ocean (R68) Geoffrey de Havilland, Jr. Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star De Havilland Goblin Rolls-Royce Nene Royal Norwegian Air Force de Havilland Ghost English Electric Italian Air Force French Naval Aviation State of Katanga Zeltweg Air Base Museum of Military History, Vienna Airco Airco D.H.1 Airco D.H.2 Airco D.H.4 Airco D.H.5 Airco D.H.9 Airco D.H.10 De Havilland DH.15 Airco D.H.16 De Havilland DH.18 de Havilland D.H.34 de Havilland D.H.50 Gloster Survey De Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth de Havilland D.H.88 De Havilland Albatross De Havilland Comet
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