DE HAVILLAND DH-115 “VAMPIRE”€

1944’€“1961

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The De Havilland Vampire was a twin-tailed, single-engine jet fighter that served as Britain's home defense aircraft immediately after World War II.
  • While replaced in British frontline service by 1951, two-seat training and tactical versions remained in use worldwide until the 1970s.
  • Powered by a Goblin 3 turbojet, the aircraft had a maximum speed of 538 mph and a service ceiling of 40,000 feet.
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STANDARD DATA: Seats 1-2. Gross wt. 11,150. Empty wt. 7,380. Engine one 3,350-lb. Goblin 3 Centrifugal flow turbojet.
PERFORMANCE: Max speed 538 mph. Cruise speed 316 mph. Range 840 nm. Ceiling 40,000′.

The twin-tailed Vampire was too late to see service in World War II, but quickly became Britain’s home defense fighter. By 1951 the Vampire was being replaced by the Meteor, so in 1950 de Havilland offered a twoseat training version of the jet. Training and tactical versions of the jet remained in service in a number of countries throughout the world until the 1970s.

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