Vampire
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Vampire
Have recently bought a DH Vampire T11. The aircraft is dismantled and in need of some serious restoration but is never-the-less all there. Our aim is get the a/c back to ground-running status.
Does anyone have any leads as to where I might acquire a jet-pipe? Also a radio as fits on the right-hand side of the main instrument panel, and a clock that fits just right of center on main inst' panel.
Any info on the above much appreciated.
Does anyone have any leads as to where I might acquire a jet-pipe? Also a radio as fits on the right-hand side of the main instrument panel, and a clock that fits just right of center on main inst' panel.
Any info on the above much appreciated.
Try `ebay`,aircraft parts..
These guys would know I expect: Vampire Preservation Group - Home Page
Pilots Notes
No jetpipe..... but I think I have an original set of pilots notes somewhere....
PM me if you are interested.
OMS
PM me if you are interested.
OMS
Make sure you have an asbestos blanket to drape over the tailplane when starting the engine and don't run the engine for any length of time if you're parked on tarmac or grass - concrete only!!
Make sure you have an asbestos blanket to drape over the tailplane when starting the engine
Asbestos these days: elfin safety would throw a tantrum.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
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At RAAF Pearce in mid 1968 the most difficult initial fing to grasp was the the RAAF Vampire (with toe brakes unlike RAN Vamps with the brake actuator on control column) could run out of engine supplied air pressure to actuate said brakes. Oh woe on the long run from the flight line down the single tar taxiway to (it was hoped) reach the small concrete pad at the end near the threshold of RW 36. Flights had to be staggered so that not too many Vamps would be waiting there. If you were caught at the end of the queue - youse could play the farqueue card and (with ATC permission) taxi quickly past all the waiters to the head of the queue and perhaps onto the runway (concreted a bit there). Then away you go with a mighty roar swinging onto runway heading stabbing at the brakes to line up as that MIGHTY GOBLIN sprang to life in what - ten seconds? 
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 3rd Jun 2014 at 10:39. Reason: grfx
The only time you required a blanket was during a wet start. After an initial failure, normally by using an incorrect procedure, the aircraft would be towed to a dry part on the dispersal. The blanket was to protect the tailplane from the billow of flame out of the jet pipe and also to stop any fuel still adhering to the tailplane from lighting up.
I had to do it once, at night. It was quite spectacular. Never got the start procedure wrong again.
I had to do it once, at night. It was quite spectacular. Never got the start procedure wrong again.
One year at Farnborough (either 2000 or 2002 I think) we had a collection of Vampires and Venoms displaying on public days. Despite my warnings, one of the controllers held two of them on A Shed Tarmac (now called 'East Apron') with inevitable results - the surface actually caught fire!
When they departed en masse on the monday, I was the tower controller and I got them all to line up on the concrete end of the runway whilst I backtracked a couple of other aircraft (Sukhoi 35 and ATP) to take off ahead of them.
When they departed en masse on the monday, I was the tower controller and I got them all to line up on the concrete end of the runway whilst I backtracked a couple of other aircraft (Sukhoi 35 and ATP) to take off ahead of them.
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'fareastdriver' "...I had to do it once, at night. It was quite spectacular. Never got the start procedure wrong again." Did you get a good noise also?
I'll never forget my ham fisted attempts to get the engine accelerating in flight as quickly as possible (under instruction at altitude) with that bleedin' goblin moaning and groaning - a well named engine methinks.
Of course necessarily after a bit of practice accelerating the whiner was easy enough on that burble noise - then there was the two handed co-ordination of keeping the nose wheel off the runway during a touch and go otherwise all hell broke loose with vibrations from the nosewheel that could drop your dentures.
RAAF airfields of the day were littered with frozen macadam puddles from those unfortunates. Of course there was the odd one at Nowra but our main runway 26 was very close by the concrete line with only very little macadam inbetween.
I'll never forget my ham fisted attempts to get the engine accelerating in flight as quickly as possible (under instruction at altitude) with that bleedin' goblin moaning and groaning - a well named engine methinks.
Of course necessarily after a bit of practice accelerating the whiner was easy enough on that burble noise - then there was the two handed co-ordination of keeping the nose wheel off the runway during a touch and go otherwise all hell broke loose with vibrations from the nosewheel that could drop your dentures.
RAAF airfields of the day were littered with frozen macadam puddles from those unfortunates. Of course there was the odd one at Nowra but our main runway 26 was very close by the concrete line with only very little macadam inbetween.
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 4th Jun 2014 at 02:52. Reason: RAAFers
Vampire start. Very impressive and quite startling for spectators who haven't seen it before:
There are only two igniters so there is a lot of excess fuel in the other burner cans.
Brett Emeny (RVM's owner) told me "It's called a Goblin, because it gobbles fuel!"
There are only two igniters so there is a lot of excess fuel in the other burner cans.
a well named engine methinks
