Looking for information on our Vampire T11 XD 547
Squadron service markings and colour schemes for the aircraft.
It is c/n 15515 first flight 02/07/1954
sold ?; 22/03/1971
Not a lot else we know about it.
Mike E
By: Firebex - 29th May 2012 at 17:54
Thanks for the info guys a few reply’s but as usual quality ones.
I have done some trawling through the internet trying to find all sorts of links and the one of interest I came across was WZ507 taking off from a grass airstrip at a country show.by the amount of debris he kicked up behind I don’t think many other aircraft used that side of the strip for a while.First thing I have seen on Vampires using grass strips UK T11’s that is as I do recall seeing a photo somewhere of Venoms and overseas using rough strips and of course the Swiss did all sorts of things with theirs including wet starts as a norm throwing a fire blanket over the tail during starts to ensure starts every time.
By the way still looking for a Goblin jet engine and a fuselage fuel tank please if anyone has one lying around.
Mike E
By: lauriebe - 29th May 2012 at 01:56
Mike,
Units that XD547 served at taken from the Air-Britain serial register:
263 Sqn
IRS Tangmere
Back to DH
8 FTS
CATCS
No dates unfortunately. However, if you contact the RAFM at Hendon, I’m sure they will be able to send you a copy of the aircraft’s movement record card, AM/RAF Form 78. That will have a full record of dates, etc.
By: Dr. John Smith - 28th May 2012 at 23:25
Here you go: picture of XD547 when with 8 FTS, taken at RAF Swinderby, Lincs., on 11/9/1963: http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1055810/ and http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=XD547&u=reg
XD547 seems to have served with the CATCS at Shawbury, and (as the above link proves) with 8 FTS at Swinderby. Colour scheme for the latter: silver overall, the lighter “stripes” being day-glo orange. Note the dark (red?) fin tips
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th May 2012 at 22:36
I may (somewhere!) have some pics of this. It was a Central Air Traffic Control School (Shawbury) aircraft and I also think it may have been on the cover of an Ian Allan ‘special’ depicting dayglo painted aircraft. Or did I imagine that?? I am also fairly sure that I had some bits out of the cockpit of this aircraft in 1970 when it was put out to grass and presumably just before it was sold – that is, unless there was another ‘Z’?
By: tiffyman - 28th May 2012 at 21:13
Looking for information on our Vampire T11 XD 547
Squadron service markings and colour schemes for the aircraft.
It is c/n 15515 first flight 02/07/1954
sold ?; 22/03/1971
Not a lot else we know about it.
Mike E
Hi Mike,
See attached Link http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/447704L.html
Also ex 8 FTS
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May 28, 2012 at 8:46 pm