De Havilland Vampire Mk35A - #A79-614

Info:

The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter which was developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and the first to be powered by a single jet engine.

Development of the Vampire as an experimental aircraft began in 1941 during the Second World War, to exploit the revolutionary innovation of jet propulsion. From the company's design studies, it was decided to use a single-engine, twin-boom aircraft, powered by the Halford H.1 turbojet (later produced as the "Goblin"). Aside from its propulsion system and twin-boom configuration, it was a relatively conventional aircraft.

In May 1944 it was decided to produce the aircraft as an interceptor for the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 1946 the Vampire entered operational service with the RAF, only months after the war had ended.

The Vampire quickly proved to be effective and was adopted as a replacement of wartime piston-engined fighter aircraft. During its early service it accomplished several aviation firsts and achieved various records, including the first jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The Vampire remained in front-line RAF service until 1953 when it was progressively reassigned to various secondary roles, such as ground attack and pilot training.

The RAF retired the Vampire in 1966 when its final role of advanced trainer was filled by the Folland Gnat. The Royal Navy had also adapted the type as the Sea Vampire, a navalised variant suitable for operations from aircraft carriers. It was the service's first jet fighter.

The Vampire was exported to a wide variety of nations and was operated worldwide in numerous theatres and climates. By the end of production, almost 3,300 Vampires had been manufactured, a quarter of these having been manufactured under licence in several other countries.

In addition, de Havilland pursued the further development of the type; major derivatives produced include the DH.115, a dedicated dual-seat trainer, and the more advanced DH.112 Venom, a refined variant oriented towards conducting ground attack and night fighter operations.

 

Vampires in Australia:

During 1946, government approval was given for the purchase of an initial 50 Vampire fighter aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The first three machines of this batch were British-built aircraft, an F1, F2 and FB.5, and were given serial numbers A78-1 to A78-3. 

All of the 80 F.30 fighters and FB.31 fighter-bomber Vampires that were subsequently built by de Havilland Australia were powered by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) versions of the Nene engine manufactured under licence at their facility in Melbourne. 

In June 1949, the first Vampire F.30 fighter (A79-1) made its first flight; it was followed by 56 more F.30 variants before the final 23 aircraft were completed as FB.31s.

In 1954, all single seat Vampires were retired by the RAAF, but remained in service in Citizen Air Force squadrons until the early 1960s.

The Vampire T.33 was a two-seat training version, powered by the Goblin turbojet and built in Australia. T.34 and T.35 were used by the RAAF and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) (In RAAF service they were known as Mk33 through to Mk35W.)

Many were manufactured or assembled at de Havilland Australia's facilities in Sydney. The Mk35W was a Mk35 fitted with spare Mk33 wings following overstress or achievement of fatigue life. Vampire trainer production in Australia amounted to 110 aircraft, and the initial order was filled by 35 T.33s for the RAAF; deliveries being made in 1952 with five T.34s for the RAN delivered in 1954. The trainers remained in service in the RAAF until 1970, and in the RAN until 1971, when they were replaced by the Macchi MB-326.

 

Our Aircraft:

RAAF DE HAVILLAND MK35A VAMPIRE #A79-614

STATISTICS: 

  • Manufacturer: de Havilland English Electric
  • Serial #: A79-614
  • Seating: 2 Seats
  • Engine: 1 x de Havilland Goblin 3 centrifugal-flow turbojet
  • Max Speed: 882km/h / 548 mph
  • Max takeoff:15,620kg / 12,390 LB
  • Range: 1,960km / 1,220 mi
  • Wing Span: 12m / 38ft
  • Length: 9.37m / 30ft 9in
  • Height: 2.69m / 8ft 10in
  • Ceiling: 13,000m / 42,800 ft

 

Thanks for the wonderful ladies at the RAAF Museum, we are able to share a photos of our Mk35A Vampire A79-614 on the delivery flight. With the help of some experts in this field we’re almost certain that this photo was taken on the day that the first 10 Vampires travelled from Central Flying School (RAAF East Sale) to No 1 Flying Training School (RAAF Pearce).

That would date this photo to the 5th of May 1958. Our vampire is at the far right in the picture. 

Photo remains the property of RAAF Museum and is used with permission

 

This record card was found stuffed inside the wing of A79-614.

 

Important Information:

AusTags are made from actual fuselage skin from retired aircraft. Because of this, each tag can vary in color, patina, thickness, and general wear and tear. These differences and imperfections are not product flaws, rather the unique "fingerprint" of the aircrafts history.

The images on this website are provided for reference only and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a particular AusTag.

Caution: Not recommended for children under 8 years of age. This product contains chemical-based paint which may cause respiratory irritation if ingested or inhaled in large quantities. Keep out of mouth.

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