What Is The de Havilland Vampire?
De Havilland Vampire. Early British single-engine jet featuring a unique twin-boom tail setup and wood-composite fuselage construction.
United Kingdom
Origin
Fighter
Role
882 km/h
Top speed
13,045 m
Service ceiling
de Havilland Vampire Specifications
The de Havilland Vampire was an early British jet fighter featuring a distinctive twin-boom tail structure and wood-composite fuselage. Powered by a single Halford H.1 Goblin turbojet reaching 548 mph, it was the first jet fighter to land on an aircraft carrier and operate across 30 air forces.
Performance
Top speed
548 mph (882 km/h)
Service ceiling
42,800 ft (13,045 m)
Combat radius
310 nmi (575 km)
Rate of climb
4,800 ft/min (24.4 m/s)
Airframe
Crew
1
Length
30 ft 9 in (9.37 m)
Wingspan
38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
Empty weight
7,283 lbs (3,304 kg)
Engine
1x Halford H.1/de Havilland Goblin 3 turbojet
Service
First flight
20 September 1943
Unit cost
$35,000 (Historical)
Operators
United Kingdom (RAF - Historic), Australia, France, Canada
What Weapons Does The de Havilland Vampire Carry?
de Havilland Vampire is armed with four 20mm Hispano Mk V autocannons beneath the cockpit nose, along with underwing hardpoints supporting up to 2,000 lbs of unguided rocket projectiles or conventional bombs.
Weapon
Category
Loadout
Range
Hispano Mk V
Category
20 mm Cannon
Loadout
4 internal cannon (150 rounds each)
Range
1,000 metres (effective)
RP-3
Category
60 lb Unguided Rockets
Loadout
Up to 8 rockets
Range
1.5 km (0.9 miles)
500 lb Bomb
Category
General-Purpose Bomb
Loadout
Up to 2 bombs
Range
Gravity released
Category
Loadout
Range
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Loadout
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Loadout
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How Fast Is The de Havilland Vampire?
The Vampire reaches around 548 mph, Mach 0.71. Modest by later standards, but in 1948 a Vampire became the first jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic, and in 1945 the first to land on an aircraft carrier. Its single centrifugal-flow Goblin engine sits in a short fuselage pod, with twin booms carrying the tail – an arrangement chosen to minimise thrust losses through a long jet pipe.
How Was The de Havilland Vampire Developed?
Geoffrey de Havilland began design in 1941 around the Halford H.1 engine, later the Goblin. The company's experience with the wooden Mosquito led to a forward fuselage built largely from plywood and balsa. The prototype flew on 20 September 1943, but the type arrived too late for Second World War service, entering RAF squadrons in 1946.
Has The de Havilland Vampire Seen Combat?
Vampires saw action in the Malayan Emergency with the RAF, in the Suez Crisis with Egypt, in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 with India, and in various African and Middle Eastern conflicts. Its combat career was brief, as swept-wing fighters quickly rendered straight-wing jets obsolete.
Who Operates The de Havilland Vampire?
Thirty-one air forces operated the Vampire, and Switzerland flew it until 1990 – one of the longest service lives of any first-generation jet. Several airworthy examples remain, and Jetify offers passenger flights in a two-seat Vampire from South West England.
de Havilland Vampire FAQs
Common questions about the de Havilland Vampire, its capabilities and whether civilians can fly it.
Can I fly in the de Havilland Vampire as a passenger?
Yes, you can fly as a passenger in the de Havilland Vampire through Jetify, with flights from South West England. You fly in a two-seat example with a qualified pilot, and no licence or flying experience is required. The de Havilland Vampire is one of 7 aircraft types Jetify offers from 11 airfields in 7 countries.
Can I take the controls of the de Havilland Vampire?
Yes, in most cases you can take the controls of the de Havilland Vampire. It has dual controls, and pilots routinely hand over in level flight and gentle turns once satisfied you are comfortable. Takeoff, landing and low-level flying stay with the pilot.
How much does a de Havilland Vampire flight cost?
A de Havilland Vampire flight with Jetify starts from around £4,200, $5,600 or €5,000 per person, flying from South West England. The price includes ground school, flight suit, helmet and pre-flight medical screening. Prices depend on the aircraft and location: L-39 Albatros flights start from around £2,500, $3,300 or €2,900, and the Hawker Hunter, the fastest aircraft currently bookable, from around £6,400, $8,500 or €7,600.
Is there a weight or height limit to fly in the de Havilland Vampire?
Yes, a flight in the de Havilland Vampire has strict height and weight limits, set by ejection seat clearances, cockpit dimensions and harness fit. Across jet experiences, height is typically 5ft 2in (157 cm) to 6ft 4in (193 cm), and weight is generally capped at 16 st 7 lb to 18 st 12 lb (105 kg to 120 kg) depending on the aircraft. You also need normal cardiovascular health, with no heart conditions, severe high blood pressure or recent surgery.
How much G-force will I feel in the de Havilland Vampire?
The G-force you feel in the de Havilland Vampire depends on the profile you agree with your pilot: on civilian jet experiences, aerobatic profiles typically reach four to eight positive G in sustained turns and around minus four negative G. You learn the anti-G straining manoeuvre in ground school, which keeps you conscious under load, and the profile can be adjusted at any point.
How far in advance should I book a de Havilland Vampire flight?
Book a de Havilland Vampire flight 2 to 4 months in advance, because limited aircraft availability, maintenance schedules and airspace clearances restrict slots on real ex-military jet experiences. For weekend slots in peak summer months, allow 6 months. Simulator experiences generally need 2 to 3 weeks’ notice for standard weekend bookings.
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