De Havilland Vampire

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Pretty cool story and great video of this one literally blowing the runway apart during takeoff on Sunday.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/militar ... y/?ref=yfp

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Wed May 03, 2017 8:53 pm

that tarmac is not jet rated! :lol:

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Wed May 03, 2017 10:39 pm

It's not rated for anything after that, I imagine! :shock:

Punisher05 · **Posted:** Thu May 04, 2017 8:15 am

Yeeeeeeeah...I'll be using that video for my Airfield Inspection and Maintenance classes.

Asphalt is technically an oil-based liquid (or "flexible pavement") in the airport world. That's why we try to keep heavy aircraft from stopping on it for any length of time--especially in hot weather. It's useful life is also much shorter than pavement--and when it goes, it goes. Very impressive to see chunks blowing into the air during most of the takeoff run, though he's lucky to have not had a scratch on the bird. You also tend to see those FODing out ahead of time, so he's also quite lucky to have avoided an ingestion.

-Brandon

Malcolm Hood · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 1:38 am

Goblin up the tarmac :wink:

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 7:36 am

^^^ rimshot!

K5DH · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 4:15 pm

I used to see Vampires and Venoms at air shows quite often, but I haven't seen one fly in many, many years. I always thought they were pretty cool. Anyone know approximately how many are still operational here in the States? I know there are some in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 5:48 pm

In New Zealand we have three airworthy DH jets: two Vampire trainers and a single-seat Venom.

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 8:48 pm

K5DH wrote:

I used to see Vampires and Venoms at air shows quite often, but I haven't seen one fly in many, many years. I always thought they were pretty cool. Anyone know approximately how many are still operational here in the States? I know there are some in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

World Heritage Air Museum in the Detroit area has an airworthy Vampire. They also have one Venom and one on loan, but I don't know their current status.

https://www.worldheritageairmuseum.org/ ... nd-vampire

https://www.worldheritageairmuseum.org/ ... land-venom

Jerry Conley also flies a Vampire regularly at airshows in North America.

http://www.dhvampire.com

Kyleb · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 9:42 pm

With Vampires being partially constructed of wood (similar to the Mosquito), why is it that there are still quite a few "original" Vampires flying, and all of the original wooden Mossies were retired due to wood and glue concerns? Did De Havilland develop better glues after the war, or is there something else to credit for the longer service life of the Vampire prior to refurbishment?

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Sat May 06, 2017 10:59 pm

I think only the fuselage pod is wooden, but I think the big factor is that the Swiss kept flying them until the early 1990s.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Sun May 07, 2017 4:50 pm

There were two that raced at Reno last year, although only one flew home.

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Fri May 12, 2017 4:34 pm

Lon Moer wrote:

There were two that raced at Reno last year, although only one flew home.

The two from Reno last year.

I'm still bummed that Pete had to belly his plane in. The two vampires would have easily gone 1-2 in the jet races. They are hands down the fastest birds around the course.

Will

phil65 · **Posted:** Fri May 12, 2017 5:45 pm

Will they be back this year ?

Phil

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Fri May 19, 2017 12:38 am

phil65 wrote:

Will they be back this year ?

Phil

I think 44 will be back. Not sure about the one that bellied in.

Will

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