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.
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