Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Two-seat advanced military trainer

Power Plant:

(T.35)

One 3,500 lbst de Havilland Goblin 35 centrifugal-type turbojet

Specifications:

Armament:

Two 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon and eight 11 kg (25 lb) or 27 kg (60 lb) rockets

History:

Designed as a private venture, the de Havilland Vampire two-seat trainer was a development of the Vampire single-seat fighter-bomber. Known as the DH.115 Vampire T.11, the first of two prototypes G-5-7 (later WW456) was flown for the first time on 15 November 1950. Substantial quantities were built in the United Kingdom for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as the T.11, Royal Navy as the T.22, and a number of air forces throughout the world as the T.55. In addition, it was built under licence in India and Australia.

Production of the series in the United Kingdom took place at the de Havilland facilities at Chester in Cheshire, Hatfield in Hertfordshire, and Christchurch in Dorset. The type has been operated by the air forces of South Africa, Norway, Venezuela, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, India, Lebanon, Iraq, Chile, Finland, Burma, Southern Rhodesia, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Irish Air Corps, and Austria. Aircraft were built for Syria (2) but were not delivered; and those for Ceylon (5) were returned to the United Kingdom still crated.

In 1951 the RAAF ordered 36 DH.115 Vampire T.33s serials A79-801 to A79-836 (c/ns 4081 to 4104, and 4110 to 4121) from the manufacturer, de Havilland at Bankstown, NSW. These were based on the British-built Vampire, without ejection seats, and incorporated the old-style vertical tail surfaces. This order was followed by a further five aircraft for the RAN, these A79-837 to A79-841 (c/ns 4105 to 4109) being known as T.34s. The last production T.33 was fitted with ejection seats and tail dorsal fairings, together with increased fuel capacity and various other modifications. This then became the prototype for the T.35 series and was re-serialled A79-600. In 1955, 68 Vampire T.35s were ordered as A79-601 to A79-668.

Subsequently the original T.33s and T.34s were progressively up-dated to T.35 standard by the installation of ejection seats, frameless canopies and anti-skid brakes. These then became known as the T.34A and T.35A respectively. In addition, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ordered a further T.34A for No 724 Squadron in 1957 as A79-842 (c/n 4132) to replace an aircraft lost A79-839 (c.n 4107) in an accident and four British-built Sea Vampire T.22s (XA101, XA167, XG766 and XG770) were obtained in 1959, these latter four retaining their British serials even when the RAN aircraft took the N6- series serial. The type operated with Nos 724 and 725 Squadrons, RAN.

The Vampire trainers served with the RAAF and RAN for many years until finally replaced by the Australian-built version of the Italian Macchi MB-326.

A number of Vampire trainer have survived and may be seen in museums, on display on poles, etc, and a few have been restored to airworthiness. One A79-649 (c/n 4171) became VH-ICP and, after flying in Australia for some time, was sold in New Zealand where it has been flown as ZK-VAM. Another one A79-983 (c/n 4158) was with the RAAF Historic Flight, being flown for a period as VH-HLF  being withdrawn from service in July 2018. Vampire trainer A79-665 has been held by the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) and has had the registration VH-FJW (c/n 4187) reserved. An additional Vampire was being restored to airworthiness at Tamworth as VH-RAN at one stage but was exported to the United Kingdom. A79-617 has been restored to airworthiness as VH-VAM (c/n 4139) for the Temora Aviation Museum. After retirement a number of others have been sold overseas.

Two ex-Zimbabwe Air Force Vampire T.11s were imported to Victoria for restoration, the first becoming VH-ZVZ (c/n 15392 – ex R4221). The other R2424 was under restoration for a period but has not been flown in Australia. In late 2017 VH-ZVZ, which was based at West Sale, VIC was found to have a major engine problem, was retired and was conveyed to join other aircraft on static display at Tyabb, VIC.

A number of ex-RAAF machines were exported to private owners in the United States, one being converted to executive jet configuration, known as the Jetcraft Mystery Jet, a new fuselage being built seating six, including the pilot, and being fitted with a 3,700 lbst Viper 601 turbojet, but it is not known if it ever flew. It was still extant at the Sky Harbour Airport, Las Vegas in 1994.

The two-seat training variant of the Vampire trainer saw extensive service with the RNZAF. Six T.55s (NZ5701 to NZ5706) were operated between 1952 and 1958 and most were scrapped. Five T.11s (NZ5707 to NZ5711) were operated between 1956 and 1977, these seeing service with No 75 Squadron initially, and later with the Fighter Operational Conversion Unit (FOCU). One was lost in service (NZ5706) when it crashed in the Rangitikei River. The five T.11s with ejector seats, an improved canopy and large fin fillets, were ordered in 1956 and, although they were taken on charge between December 1955 and December 1956, all but NZ5708 were put into storage, not entering service until 1958. They were withdrawn from service in 1972, two being sold and the other three becoming instructional airframes at Woodbourne.

A number of ex RNZAF Vampire trainers have survived in private collections and in museums. One (NZ5708) was exchanged by the RNZAF Museum at Wigram with an Indonesian museum for a North American P-51D Mustang. Others remain in storage. One T.11 (c/n 985 – ex U-1225 and HB-RVM), an ex-Swiss Air Force machine, has been imported and flown as ZK-RVM. Another T.11 NZ5709 (c/n 15679 – ex XH271) had a civil registration reserved in November 1983 but its conversion for civil use was not completed and the registration was not taken up.

A small number of ex RAAF machines were exported to the United States after their retirement and a couple were restored but those that did fly did not remain airworthy for long. One T.35 ex A79-635 became N35DS and in 2015 work commenced to restore this aircraft to airworthiness.  A second example A79-637 (c/n 4159) became part of the collection of the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society at Albion Park, NSW. Both aircraft, A79-637 and A79-665, have been painted in the RAAF aerobatic team ‘Telstars’ colour scheme. Vampire A79-665 is being returned to airworthiness to fly in late 2020.