This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:28 pm
Glyn--
Quite right about the Vamp...that serial is a fabrication, mixing the last-three of the civil reg with the owner's initials! This is Ed Stead's ex-RAAF Vampire T.35, N11930. Mr Stead was an avionics specialist at just the time that market went wild...so he could afford to buy and operate a vintage jet, and into the bargain he kitted-out the cockpit with pretty much everything you could then order up for a Lear or Citation or Gulfstream...making the Vamp one part ultra-stylish business aircraft, and one part advertisement for his avionics business.
Mr Stead subsequently owned a Hawker Hunter, also. Never saw that, but did see the Vamp at one of the ill-fated Brant County airshows in the early 90s. Superb little machine. An associate (Doug something?) of Mr Stead's flew an aerobatic routine in N11930 at Brant County. Nice to see it again!
S.