Any Vampire specialists out there?

Speaking of dismantling and moving Vamps… We are just completing the disassembly of T.22 XA167. No engine and centre tank long removed, so not much to it. I’ve included a photo of an RAAF Vamp fuse being loaded on to a Herc (sorry, poor quality from photocopy of print in a plastic sleave). Stuart Wilson’s book on the Dak, Herc and Caribou shows a Canberra fuselage being installed in the back of a Herc – looks pretty snug. I doubt very much that there is any chance that Vamp wings could go in a Herc. Puting the wing at its best angle, it has a width or height of 3.45m. (A re-hash of Bruce’s dimensions, but in our Australian terms: maximum load width on a truck without escort is 3.5m!!!). Also interesting to see the aircraft identity. In 1996 I spent 3 months in Seattle and met Bill Lamberton who at that time had four Vampires: the F.3 17031, two ex-RAAF T.35s (A79-654 & ‘639), and Kiwi machine NZ5774. At the time 17031 had been grounded for two years as there was cracking in the wheel-well.
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Hi Deryck as has been said the Vampire is a very simple beast and provided its not got a rotten fuselage or a seized up engine it should be a fairly straight forward matter to get her runable and fit for a ferry flight under a US registration. In fact you could find it would be cost effective and not much different to the costs of sending guys over paying for transport accomodation,cranes,equipment etc.

We have access to two guys who work for/with us who are both ex RAF and ex Vampire jockeys so if you are stuck shout out.

Mike E

Tempest 414, Thanks, they could be a big help if we can get some info/copies from them.

Talk to Weald Aviation in the UK they have the tools and the AP’s for the F3

Deryk,

You are probably correct. I have just found the following:

Vampire FB 6 J-1145 Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton

I don’t think that here is a current list of preserved Vampires in Canada…unless someone knows better?

VampireDave,

I am not aware of any Swiss FB-6 restorations/conversions to represent a RCAF 400 squadron F-3. Could this be at the Canadian Warplane Heritage in Hamilton?

No idea what the Comox F-3 will be displayed as. I am sure that it will depend upon the wishes of the donor or the source of the funding and the Board of Directors of the Museum.

I am pretty sure that the opinions of the restoration team will carry very little weight!

I know, 2 days late…

With its previous owner

N41J as seen 42 years ago. 🙂

http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=De%20Havilland%20DH.100%20Vampire%20F3&u=type

Deryk: so what is the serial of your former Swiss FB 6 which has been restored as a 400 Squadron machine?

Also, what are your plans for the ‘new’ Vampire?

It flew in registered in the US, so should be no reason why it cant be re-registered in the US, and ferried. There are pics of it being run up whilst at Comox. As long as you keep oil in the engine, it will be fine 😉

They are a dead simple aeroplane – really shouldnt be too much work.

Bruce

Hi Vamp Dave, You are probably correct with the serials, the details have not yet reached the workshop. I am sure CFB Comox was mentioned as the source.

Bruce, my first thought was to ferry it, but I was shot down immediately.
It would be a lot of work to get it airworthy and I am not sure if there ever has been a single seat Vampire certified in Canada. The one owned by Al Rubin, that landed short at Rochester, was licenced in the US.

Right now the plan is to dismantle as little as possible and ship it back.

When? I have no idea! We (in the shop) only heard about it in the past few days.

Looks like it has been well cared for and, importantly, hangared.

Can it be certified for a ferry flight?

Bruce

Is this Vampire F 3 VP720 / 17031 / N41J which was last recorded in store at CFB Comox, Vancouver?

The aircraft in question is a MK3. I think you will find the serial number is ex RCAF 17031.

Mrp.

Yes the Mk.2 Vampire was the non production RR Nene powered variant, 2 or 3 built I think.
You need to check out if it is an F.3 and not a T.11 for relevancy and value reasons.

Vampire 2 could be Vampire II and hence T11… (if you follow me!)

VampireDave, Sorry, we do not yet have the serial number.

We were initially told it was a Mk 2, however all the RCAF aircraft were Mk 3s, so I have assumed that it is a Mk 3.

This is the second Vamp we have been offered, the other one was the ex-John Travolta Vamp, that landed short of the runway at, I think, Batavia, NY, that one seems to have fallen through. Interesting in that it was alleged to be the oldest jet flying!

We often go through these ‘how can we recover this aircraft’ scenarios. Not all come to fruition!

Err, no it doesnt – its the same as a Vampire!

SEA Venom possibly, but even that would be tricky to move in one piece with outer wings off.

Bruce

Sorry yes cracking up Sea venom is the one with stubs with the undercart in and the folding outer wings come off.I understand they are contemplating moving the one at DX like that.I have also seen a Vampire with engine removed but wings still on moved on a low loader as a wide load placed sideways and sloping on a frame,Not a sight for the feint hearted.
The ex DH machine/ex vintage pair spare was moved from Sealand to Harwarden that way after systems and engine runs to have final assembly for flight.Sadly the one lost at Biggin with Jim Kerr in the right seat..

Mike E

Do we know the identity of this Vampire F 3?