The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Work on the aircraft began during the Second World War as a largely experimental aircraft suitable for combat that harnessed the groundbreaking innovation of jet propulsion; it was quickly decided to opt for a single-engine, twin-boom aircraft equipped with the Halford H.1 turbojet engine (later the de Havilland Goblin). Originally ordered as an experimental aircraft only, the decision to mass-produce the aircraft as an interceptor for the Royal Air Force (RAF) was finalised in May 1944.
The de Havilland Vampire was 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 same molded plywood technique perfected on the wooden Mosquito. The FB.6 was 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)
Role
Fighter-Bomber
Crew
1 (Pilot)
First Flight (Vampire)
September 20, 1943
Powerplant
1 × de Havilland Goblin 3 centrifugal-flow turbojet
Thrust
3,350 lbf (14.9 kN)
Maximum Speed
548 mph (882 km/h)
Service Ceiling
42,800 feet (13,045 m)
Armament
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.
The “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 (HMS Ocean) 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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