Lla vampire de Havilland est un chasseur à réaction britannique développé et fabriqué par la de Havilland Aircraft Company. Les travaux sur l’avion ont commencé pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale en tant qu’avion en grande partie expérimental adapté au combat qui a exploité l’innovation révolutionnaire de la propulsion par avion à réaction; il a rapidement été décidé d’opter pour un monomoteur, bi-boom équipé du moteur turboréacteur Halford H.1 (plus tard le de Havilland Goblin). Initialement commandée comme avion expérimental seulement, la décision de produire en masse l’avion comme intercepteur pour la Royal Air Force (RAF) fut finalisée en mai 1944.
Lla vampire de Havillandwas the second jet-powered aircraft to enter service with the RAF, following the Gloster Meteor. However, the Vampire was unique in its construction; while it was a cutting-edge jet, its fuselage was built using the samemolded plywoodtechnique perfected on the wooden Mosquito. TheFB.6was a specialized Fighter-Bomber export version produced for Switzerland, representing the pinnacle of the single-seat Vampire’s development with an uprated engine and increased weight capacity.
Attribute
Technical Specification (Vampire FB.6)
Rôle
Chasseur-bombardier
Crew
1 (Pilot)
First Flight (Vampire)
September 20, 1943
Groupe motopropulseur
1 × de Havilland Goblin 3 centrifugal-flow turbojet
Thrust
3,350 lbf (14.9 kN)
Vitesse maximale
548 mph (882 km/h)
Service Ceiling
42,800 feet (13,045 m)
Armement
4 × 20mm Hispano Mk V cannons; 8 × rockets or 2,000 lbs of bombs
Twin Booms and Goblin Fire
The Twin-Boom Design:de Havilland used a twin-boom tail to allow the jet exhaust to be as short as possible. This minimized the loss of thrust associated with long tailpipes, which was critical for the relatively weak early turbojets.
Centrifugal-Flow Engine:The Goblin engine used a large, spinning compressor. Because it was wider than later « axial-flow » jets, the Vampire has its distinctive « pancake » fuselage shape. It was incredibly reliable and simple to maintain.
Mixed Construction:While the tail booms and wings were metal, the cockpit « pod » was made of balsa wood sandwiched between layers of birch. This made the Vampire lighter and faster than many all-metal contemporaries. [Image detail showing the wooden construction of the Vampire cockpit pod]
Lla « FB » Evolution:The FB (Fighter-Bomber) series featured clipped wings compared to the original interceptors. This improved low-level handling and allowed for a much higher roll rate during ground-attack maneuvers.
Global Service and Swiss Precision
The Swiss FB.6:Switzerland was a major operator of the FB.6. They loved the aircraft for its ability to operate out of short runways in narrow alpine valleys. Many Swiss Vampires were later fitted with « Pinocchio » noses to house additional avionics.
Naval Firsts:A modified Vampire (the Sea Vampire) was the first pure jet aircraft in history to land on and take off from an aircraft carrier (HMSOcean) in 1945.
A Pilot’s Favorite:Pilots loved the Vampire for its excellent visibility—since there was no engine in front—and its forgiving flight characteristics. It was often described as flying like a « high-speed Tiger Moth. »
The T.11 Trainer:The Vampire’s success led to the T.11, a side-by-side two-seat trainer that taught an entire generation of pilots how to fly jets. Its distinctive « egg » shaped cockpit became a common sight across the British Commonwealth.
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