DH Vampire possibilities

[Nick]

Reading an old edition of Aircraft Illustrated (Feb 1975) I found mention of potential de Havilland Vampire operators. Exact types are not stated but I'm sure a DH expert knows the full details.

Japan evaluated a Trainer version in late 1955 but went with the US option. I suspect having the US as occupiers had some influence.

Syria ordered 2 T.55s in early 1956 but an arms embargo got in the way before delivery. The aircraft were stuck in the UK and scrapped in 1960 at Hatfield.

Ceylon had 5 delivered in 1951 but their government changed their mind and the aircraft were returned to the UK before they got taken out of their packing cases.

[Mossie]

Nick, I mentioned the Japan & Ceylon Vampires in the Vampire/Venom/Swallow thread.  They were all T.55's.
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,22690.45.html

Extras:
Saudi Arabia:  Took a several FB.52's as a goodwill gesture from Egypt but retired them less than a year afterwards when they took T-33's.
Portugal:  Evaulated a pair of T.55's, again, they took T-33's instead.
Katanga:  The Portuguese passed the T.55's to Katanga, but were in such a poor state that they never flew & were strafed by Indian Canberras.

[PR19_Kit]

Katanga:  The Portuguese passed the T.55's to Katanga, but were in such a poor state that they never flew & were strafed by Indian Canberras.

Er, what were the Indian Canberras doings strafing Katangese Vampire T55s? Katanga is in Africa......... 

[Geoff]

The Congo in 63 or there abouts had the IAF as part of the UN forces along with Sweden Ethiopia and Iran IIRC.

[Daryl J.]

Didn't the Montana Air National Guard have a number of them in Arctic markings stationed at Malmstrom and Glasgow AFB's?  It seems as though they had the blue shag carpet inside them, the idea of which continued in the MANG F-106A's.   

FYI, some of the F-106A in Montana really did have blue shag carpet in the cockpit.   

[NARSES2]

The Congo in 63 or there abouts had the IAF as part of the UN forces along with Sweden Ethiopia and Iran IIRC.

Correct Geoff and as far as I know they flew in IAF markings rather then in UN markings

[Radish]

Yes, IAF Canberras flew in National markings in the Congo.
Meanwhile.....

the French re-engined the Vampire to create the Mistral with a slightly more powerful engine.

But without letting reality get in the way of whatiffery, a Vampire with a highly improbable weapons load would look cool!!

[Mossie]

Did Biggles fly Vampires???

A simple conversion would a Nene powered version.  The testbed had no external mods except for a couple of ear intakes for the increased airflow requirements, I'll see if I can dig out a pic.  Maybe a production version would have the wing intakes redesigned slightly?

[Mossie]

As promised!  These are the details on TG726, there were at least three others fitted with Nene's, TG725, TG280 & TX207.

[GTX]

How about a crude swept wing Vampire:



Regards,

Greg

[Daryl J.]

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Oh that is good.     Not to hijack the thread but something like that would be fun for a Shooting Star as well as the D.H. Vampire/Venom machines.

[Geoff]

IIRC the Swedish SIG did a pusher prop version with extended wingtips as an April Fool a decade or so ago.

[Mossie]

It's a shame the Operation Downfall build has finished, the Vampire would have fit in nicely.  The Vampire is a perfect candiate for 'allied '46', it was almost ready to go at the wars end.  The Vampire was seen in wartime colours since it entered service soon after, Dark Green/Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey with squadron codes & Type C Roundels.  It wouldn't be much of a stretch though to put it in desert or SEAC colours, snow camouflage even.

[kitbasher]

How about a crude swept wing Vampire:



Regards,

Greg

You mean the Venom?

[PR19_Kit]

You mean the Venom?

Erm............ does a Venom count as 'swept'? The leading edge sloped back a tad more than the Vampire, but the trailing edge was almost straight. Still looks good though.