Museo Aeronáutico de Maracay, Venezuela

Thanks for the pictures Darren, those Canberra ‘hoods’ do indeed look awful!

Thanks for the pictures Darren, those Canberra ‘hoods’ do indeed look awful!

Here’s the last batch from Maracay. It’s a really interesting place to visit.

There can’t be too many museums with three Queen Airs…

Here’s the last batch from Maracay. It’s a really interesting place to visit.

There can’t be too many museums with three Queen Airs…

A few more photos from Maracay. The problem with the Canberras speaks for itself….

A few more photos from Maracay. The problem with the Canberras speaks for itself….

Pagen01, yes, I did get shots of the Canberras and I’ll post more photos from the museum soon. However, don’t build your hopes up, the museum has erected metal canopy covers over both aircraft rendering a half decent shot nigh on impossible. I guess it’s to protect the aircraft, but imagine a Canberra with a baseball hat on! Not a good look…

The twenty two Venezuelan Venom FB 54s were built at Chester. They were the last of the type to be built at Chester and delivered by sea between December 1955 and August 1956.

The Vampire T 55 was ordered by the FAV for evaluation and built at Christchurch; being an early standard airframe it featured a framed ‘clam shell’ canopy. On 16 September 1952 the aircraft, 2A-36 (c/n 15060), was transferred from Christchurch for packing and shipment to Maiqueta, where it was re-assembled. Following a successful evaluation a further five, late standard Vampire T 55s (2E-35 to 6E-35) were ordered from Chester and delivered in June 1958.

Interestingly, it was originally delivered to the FAV as 2A-36 and there is a photograph to confirm this soon after its arrival. However, there was already a FAV Vampire FB.52 with the Flight identification codes 2A-36, which had been delivered in 1950 and it is thought that the trainer was quickly re-coded as 1E-35 to conform with the new aircraft.

On 12 July 1961 the former identification letters (ie, 2A-34; 4C-35; 1C-36) were changed again to four-digit serials; consequently the Vampire trainer became 0023 (ex-1E-35).

Far from being unique, there are still a few examples in existence with framed canopies, one of which was recently shipped to South Africa where it is hoped it will be restored to an airworthy condition.

The Venezuela Venoms were a new variant, the FB.54.
The Vampire trainer shown was unique to the VAF, a mention in ‘Flight’ (Jan ’53) says the aircraft was assembled there and was unique, featuring A/C – I wonder if that explains the NF style canopy? They also used four standard T.55s.

Nice pics, thanks for sharing, interesting mix of British & American types, did you get any shots of the Canberras?
Also worth noting that one of the ex Flambards Dragonfly’s (WG725) is in the same museum.

Yes, very good – I didnt know they had an early framed canopy Vampire T55. The Venom is the only surviving British built, single seat Venom. I wonder if it had an RAF history prior to being delivered to Venezuela?

Bruce

Really interesting photos Darren, thanks for posting. Yet another reminder of when we had aircraft with export potential such as the Dove, Vampire/Venom, Canberra and Jet Provost.

Here’s a few more from Venezuela. There can’t be too many military Bensen B8s around!