Anyone fancy a Vampire?

Hi All,
TonyT,
I was thinking along the lines of how far you can take an aircraft replica to the point of being potentially airworthy if somebody would inject some money
into whatever project at a later date, i.e. with NX611 now on the rd to airworthiness.

(This is just me)Take the ‘Whirlwind Project’ as an example would the extra expense of having items replicated to airworthy standard rather than
a static replica be worth it ? Is there a vast difference in cost ? I imagine that you would use the same type of metals as you obviously want the
airframe to last ? I say this bearing in mind (Beermat please put me right) you are wanting it to be ground run ?

Well NX611 was a ground runner and look where they are going now, this is after the brothers told me:-

“If it was made airworthy then it had an accident they would lose everything they worked so hard for as a memorial to their brother ‘Chris’ so they just keep ground running her for that reason.”

Wouldn’t it save a lot of time and money replacing any static replica items to airworthy standard items with airworthy from the start ? So if circumstances
changed in the future the aircraft could be airworthy as has been done with NX611 ? I assume the main reason this would not be done is as you state
the cost is a vast between airworthy parts and materials as apposed to static parts and materials, along with the time it would actually lengthen any
project completion, No harm in dreaming about what if’s eh! ?…..:rolleyes:

Geoff.

Why list it on Ebay instead of one of the big warbird brokers? Might give more of a chance of finding a new caring owner.

I’ve seen a vampire in real life. It would benefit from it!??

“That girl is stunning! I’d rather look at her than that plane!” #17

The aircraft is NOT photoshopped…

Is there really a market for it at that price? Its clear that the number of Vampire and Venoms that are airworthy have been in steady decline for a number of years !

That girl is stunning! I’d rather look at her than that plane!??

Gee, you’d think everyone would want an antique wooden jet.

Again, as I say it’s needs must with the Vampire. It’s a pity because it’s such a good Vampire project. I just hope it sells so Mike can get his workshop/hangers built.

Tony, it’s possible it could fly again, should the £££s turn up, it’s that good.

Sorry to hear that this project has stopped – it was good to hear that it was being looked after as it had long been ignored at Duxford.

Hopefully it will find a good home!

Geoff, I would imagine one reason it wouldn’t be airworthy will be materials used, you are not going to use expensive airworthy materials and possibly exotic materials in building a static replica, that said you would never know looking at the quality in some of them, but it isn’t a requirement.
similarily when they rebuild vintage aircraft to display standard, the goal there is to achieve a safe and structurally strong aircraft with the maximum original materials in them, so skins etc that would fail airworthiness standards but are perfectly usable in static examples will be treated and reused.

Hi All,
Mr Merry,
I suppose at the end of the day it would come down to what the owner would rather put his time and effort into, if as you are hinting then it’s
understandable why the aircraft is for sale and being perfectly honest I for one would rather see a replica Whirlwind also I would think that
you cannot run both restorations with limited funding sadly, none the less a worthy cause for an injection of money which should result in an
excellent looking aircraft.

Talking of the replica ‘Whirlwind’ or any replica come to that matter, when building the aircraft do you build it as a potential airworthy ? i.e. If the
chance came about or just a pure look alike aircraft internally and externally that as has been suggested just a possible ground running airframe :confused:

Geoff.

It’s a shame, I thought it was his when I saw it 🙁

Tony, my wife wouldn’t let me have either sadly.

Geoff, I haven’t seen Mike (the owner) for a long while, I suspect he is selling so he can build his workshop/hangers at Fishburn and get on with building the Whirlwind replica. Don’t quote me though. Selling the Vampire would be the last thing he wanted. But I suppose need must. And yes, it’s it’s potentially airworthy project, ground running is more realistic though.

Not to mention that the aircraft can be flown in daytime as well as at night.

True, but daylight operations aside, it has an extraordinarily long fatigue life.

Well an engine without any logs is simply an anchor, so you would really need an engine with records to start with if you ever wanted to fly it. Nice looking jet though.

Hi All,
Kenneth,
Absolutely true matey…;)

Geoff.

An aircraft needs atmospheric air and lots of money to fly. If any of these are not available, nothing will happen. Enthusiasm alone doesn’t matter. In the latest issue of “Aeroplane Monthly” there was a journalistically rather pathetic article trying to identify a single reason/blame for fewer and fewer airworthy vintage jets. What it didn’t say, but what is abundantly clear, is that there is simply very little interest in the UK at the moment in such aircraft, and hence very limited funds available. Very sad.

Hi All,
I can’t help but wonder why such a fine example is for sale from the owners ? Unless it all comes down to having the cash to finish the project off to
completion but a potentially airworthy project is there. I suppose not only having the cash to finish the project but more cash to operate the aircraft
along with maintenance and hanger costs etc.etc.etc.

Assuming financing problems of the project goes someway as an explanation for the projects sale, it’s just a shame that so many projects start and
are never brought through to their hoped for fruition due to the ever changing financially orientated world we now live in. It is even sadder when
those with good intentions are affected, especially after all the careful planning who at one point say yes we can afford that only to find a few years
down the line everything has changed forcing them to pull the plug. Either a philanthropist or a museum need to get hold of this project before it just
becomes another victim of the current climate we all live…..:apologetic:

Geoff.

Not to mention that the aircraft can be flown in daytime as well as at night.

Although to be honest I suspect the Aircraft is less of a pain, and doesn’t bite as much….. Hat coat…!!!

Tim