Here is the basic info that answers my questions about the seat selected for the Australian single-seat Vampire – why it took so long to figure out what seat would be used, and why De Havilland in Bankstown thought that various marks other than the final selection would be used.

From Terry’s list, the Mk.1A, 1B, 1C and 1E were all available around 1949/1950.

De Havilland and MB were looking at the 1E being fitted in the Venom FB.1 from ca.1950. An inspection of the mock-up in Jan 1951 using the fuselage of Vampire FB.5 VZ835 and a modified Mk.1E seat revealed various changes required. The seat became the Mk.1F.

A Mk.1F was sent to Australia for fitment in Mk.31 A79-390. To address the outstanding concern of pilot size, any pilot had to be approved first as having less than 24.5″ thigh length. After finding that putting his feet in the stirrups required the pilot to loosen his harness, causing spine curvature and so likely spinal injury, the stirrups were removed. The package to address the removal of the stirrups was to change from Mk.1F to Mk.2F – the Automatic seat. I assume the Mk.2F(A) was Australian-specific. The removal of the stirrups was covered for by ankle straps. Tying of the lower legs was to prevent the legs flaying and going outside of the thigh-guards – this would be a major threat to the legs.

Tying of the legs instead of stirrups required the addition of some padding on the underside of the seat.

As it turned out for the Venom, it was the FB.4 that first flew (in late 1953) with the ejection seat – before the FB.1. It entered service in 1955.

For RAF and RN aircraft, the work to modify Mk.1 seats to Mk.2 began in August 1953.

In Australia, the prototype mod aircraft (A79-390) flew with the seat in 1953, and the mod program for the fleet ran from the second half of 1955 through to early 1957.

https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=3023621

NAA: A705, 9/84/49

Okay, PM situation now understood.

Anyway, back to my original question being about the when the individual variants are available, I’ll chase this by looking at the individual aircraft as listed by Terry.

FYI, addition to Terry’s list – and the reason for my interest – Vampire Mk.30 and 31. Initially the Mk.1 was intended but various delays occurred. They thought the Mk.3 might even be possible. As it turned out it was the Mk. 2F(A). The actual design for the installation is based on that for the Venom; all of the airframe dwgs involved have 12* part numbers.

I have requested a digital copy of our (NAA) archive’s file. Some of these are affordable for me, so I avoid the long wait until the next interstate travel.

The other addition for Terry’s list would be the Vampire FB.6. I should be able to check this fairly easily and will advise
: – )

Terry – thanks – pdf works and is much appreciated.

All – I have PM’d many times over the years. Last time I tried it worked for me – that was about a year ago.

No luck in other browser. In the old days I used to be able to right click on the link and ‘save target as’, but I guess the greater need for cyber security these days has removed that option.

PM sent.