De Havilland Vampire
The De Havilland Vampire United Kingdoms 2nd combat jet after the Gloster Meteor. A great little fighter, but once the Mig-15 appeared in the Warsaw Pact air forces, it became out classed.
It did serve well in the Fighter Bomber role and also as an advanced jet trainer.
History
Design work started in mid 1942, with the first prototype flying in September 1943.
The Vampire Mk1 entered service with the RAF in 1946, originally as an interceptor.
Vampires continued in service with the RAF in various versions until 1955.
A Naval version was also produced and used by the Fleet Air Arm, the “Sea Vampire F.20” serving with 700, 702 and 787 squadrons.
RAF vampires never saw air to air combat, however they were used in the ground attack role against rebels in Malaya during the 1960’s.
Versions
de Havilland Vampire F.MK.1
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 540mph (max) | 6,372lb (empty), 10,298lb (max) | 40ft | 30ft 9in |
de Havilland Vampire F.MK.3
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 531mph (max) | 7,134lb (empty), 11,970lb (max) | 40ft | 30ft 9in |
de Havilland Vampire FB.MK.5
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 535mph (max) | 7,253lb (empty), 12,360lb (max) | 38ft | 30ft 9in |
de Havilland Vampire FB.MK.6/FB.MK.52
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 548mph (max) | 7,283lb (empty), 12,390lb (max) | 38ft | 30ft 9in |
de Havilland Vampire FB.MK.9
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 548mph (max) | 7,283lb (empty), 12,390lb (max) | 38ft | 30ft 9in |
de Havilland Vampire NF.MK.10
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 538mph (max) | 6,984lb (empty), 11,350lb (max) | 38ft | 34ft 7in |
de Havilland Vampire T.MK.11
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 538mph (max) | 7,380lb (empty), 11,150lb (max) | 38ft | 34ft 7in |
de Havilland Vampire F.MK.20/T.MK.22
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 526mph (max) | 7,263lb (empty), 12,660lb (max) | 38ft | 30ft 9in |
Users
| Country | Service | Model | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Airforce | T.MK.11, T.MK.55 | 1956 to 1972? |
| Australia | RAAF | F.MK.30, F.MK.31, T.MK.33, T.MK.35 | 1949 to 1970 |
| Australia | RAN FAA | T.MK.34, T.MK34A | 1954 to 1970 |
| Burma | Airforce | T.MK.55 | 1954 to ? |
| Canada | RCAF | F.MK.3 | 1948 to 1958 |
| Chile | Airforce | T.MK.55, Sea Vampire T.MK.22, T.MK.11 | 1954 to 1980 |
| Dominican Republic | Aviacion Militair Dominicana | F.MK.1, FB.MK.50 | 1955 to 1974 |
| Egypt | Airforce | FB.MK.52, T.MK.55 | 1949 to 1960s? |
| Finland | Airforce | FB.MK.52, T.MK.55 | 1953 to 1965 |
| France | Armee de l’Air | F.MK.1, FB.MK.5, Mistral FB.MK.51 | 1948 to 1960s (mid)? |
| France | Aeronavale | F.MK.1, FB.MK.5, Mistral | 1948 to ? |
| India | Airforce | FB.MK.52, T.MK.55, NF.MK.54 | 1949 to 1963 |
| Indonesia | Airforce | T.MK.55 | 1955 to 1958 |
| Iraq | Royal Iraqi Airforce | FB.MK.52, T.MK.55 | 1953 to 1960s |
| Ireland | Irish Air Corps | T.MK.55 | 1956 to 1975 |
| Italy | Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) | FB.MK.5, FB.MK.52, NF.MK.54 | 1949 to 1960 |
| Jordan | Royal Jordanian Airforce | FB.MK.9, T.MK.11, FB.MK.52 | 1955 to 1972 |
| Lebanon | Lebanese Airforce | FB.MK.52, T.MK.55, FB.MK.5, FB.MK.9 | 1953 to 1974 |
| Mexico | Fuerza Aerea Mexicana | F.MK.3, T.MK.11 | 1960 to 1970 |
| New Zealand | RNZAF | FB.MK.5, FB.MK.52, FB.MK.9, T.MK.55, T.MK.11 | 1950 to 1972 |
| Norway | Royal Norwegian Airforce (RNoAF) | F.MK.3, FB.MK.52, T.MK.11 | 1948 to 1957 |
| Portugal | Airforce | T.MK.55 | 1952 to 1961 |
| Rhodesia | Royal Rhodesian Airforce (RRAF) | FB.MK.9, FB.MK.52, T.MK.55, T.MK.11 | 1953 to 1986 |
| South Africa | South African Airforce (SAAF) | FB.MK.5, FB.MK.52, T.MK.55, FB.MK.9 | 1949 to 1985 |
| Sweden | Royal Sweedish Airforce (RSwedAF) | F.MK.1, FB.MK.50, T,MK.55 | 1949 to 1968 |
| Switzerland | Airforce | F.MK.1, FB.MK.6, T.MK.11, T.MK.55 | 1946 to 1990 |
| United Kingdom | RAF | F.MK.1, F.MK.3, FB.MK.5, FB.MK.9, T.MK.11, NF.MK.10 | 1946 to 1962 (T11) |
| United Kingdom | RN FAA | F.MK.20, T.MK.22 | 1947 to 1957 (T11) |
| Venezuela | Airforce | FB.MK.5, T.MK.55 | 1949 to 1972 |
de Havilland Vampire model kits etc.
My build of the Airfix 1/72 de Havilland Vampire T.11
Sources etc.
Books
- Warpaint Series No.27 de Havilland Vampire – By W.A.Harrison. Guideline Publications
Model Kits
Web
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire
- http://www.aviastar.org/gallery/vampire.html
- http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/show.php?cat=413
- http://www.warplane.com/pages/aircraft_vampire.html
- http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhibitions/tech_hang/vampire.htm
- http://www.neam.co.uk/vampire.html
- http://wp.scn.ru
- http://www.vectorsite.net/avvamp_1.html
YouTube
de Havilland Vampire – first look
Merch
