DH Vampire
 

Hiya Guys n Gals,i was just wondering if any of you have any old photos or stories you can share concerning the DH Vampire,It was the first airframe i worked on,a t11 at St Albans colledge,and have loved them ever since.Many thanks.....Neil.

I remember the fire section at Cosford being given an F5 a fair few years ago.

The look on their faces the first time they set light to it and discovered the fuselage was made of plywood and balsa, was a picture.

I did discover that the teleflex end fitting on the HP fuel cock was exactly the same as the missing airbrake fitting on the Slingsby Prefect I was re-building at the time. So although this was a sad end to a lovely aircraft, at least its demise gave new life to another aircraft. WE992 is still flying with Al Stacey at Keevil by the way (see the Air Cadet Gliding thread.

Dak

I lived under the Vampire circuit at RAAF Pearce from age 11 to 17. One of the big factors leading to a career in aviation lasting 39 years. So yes, the Vampire has a place in my affections.

Linton on Ouse '63 --far too long ago. But still quite recollective, especially the very nice young lady in the Three Tuns who I hope had a good life :)

How about "Ladies and gentlemen" rather than "Guys n Gals"? Sounds more professional and certainly better grammar:D

How about Google images and DH Vampire

Literally thousands of pictures.

(830,000 if you miss out the DH)

Hello Mr Farley,
yup am fully aware of Google images,just thought somebody may have some old photos stashed away in a box some ware that they may like share.By the way,are you the Mr John Farley of Harrier fame.If so you have just made my day.:).
Regards.....Neil

NeilCP,

I have a fond memory of the Vampire. My one and only ride on an ejection seat was in a T11 at Shawbury. My flight included practice PARs for the radar trainees and I remember being surprised that I needed 45° of bank for a Rate 1 turn and that I didn't need to use the rudders.

I was also suitably impressed by the ejection seat briefing before the flight, being told that the seats were the same as in Valiants and that I would probably have a back injury if I had to use it. Sitting on a live seat for the first time certainly focuses the mind.

Yes, JF is "Mr. Harrier".

Vampire in the undershoot at Shawbury
 

When I was in UBAS (late 60s), I remember seeing a training film, that included a sequence of a T11 on approach at Shawbury, taken from the No. 2 close formation position. The final film cut away abruptly when the T11 was just short of the threshold.

The story at Shawbury was that the pilot was formating on the camera aircraft and therefore looking over his shoulder, more than he should have and as a consequence, touched down in a cloud of dust and gravel in the undershoot! :)

Has anyone seen the original clip, before it was edited?

We had a T11 appear at work last year ,she was immaculate,i had the piss taken out of me big time by the rest of the guys as i was drooling lol.

dakkg651,

I've only just noticed your comment. I get very strange looks from people when I tell them I flew in a wooden jet fighter!

Not quite. Tha Valiant had the Mk4 seat that had three cartridges and left an eight foot telescopic gun at 80ft/sec so that the pilot would clear the tailplane. It was rated at 90 kts/0ft although the canopy would not jettison cleanly below 120 knots.
The Vampire's was a single cartridge job that was rated at 120 kts/200ft.

I went on a trip in 1961 shooting GCAs at Sleap airfield. Looking up at break off there was just a load of grass because there was about five GCA approaches and not all of them used the runways.

There was a big 24v battery on the Vampire and a Electrical Mechanic (Air) at Little Rissington changed one but forgot to secure the fixing bolts.
Bit before my time there, probably around '56, but apparently the pilot had a hell of a shock when he pulled out of a dive and the battery tried to escape through the nose.
Ah, National Service, how did the RAF survive us! :)

Hi Neil,


Here are a couple from my Dad's log book from '59 / '60


http://www.a-k-d.com/vampire/small_waddington_vamp.jpg


He flew his first jet solo in Feb 1960 in this one
http://www.a-k-d.com/vampire/wadd_vamp_id_feb_60.jpg


Sorry no stories, the photos are older than me.

Why not make a trip to Duxford to see the one they have in the museum?

An old one Still flying.
 

I thought you might like this Photo.
Taken at "Marshall's" Anniversary event, Cambridge September 2009


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/t...TerryBurke.jpg

OPF

Stevew62

The last picture looks like a British version of the Mistel....

Or maybe because it was his first solo, some kind ot "training wheels"?

:):)

Lovely pics steve,thanks for posting,:D

Thats the one i was drooling over oldphoto,fanatic lol,thanks for posting,talking of the French Mistral,they are included too.:)

The Sud-Est Mistral was a licence built version of the single seat Vampire. The main difference apart from the single cockpit were the long fins on the Vampire T11 to counteract the twin seat pod. The French, like the Australians, also fitted it with a RR Nene instead of the DH Goblin.