De Havilland Vampire T11

XE856 De Havilland Vampire T11 (cn 15596) was built by de Havilland Aircraft at Hatfield and delivered to the RAF in December 1954. It initially served with 226 Operational Conversion Unit at Stradishall training would be fighter pilots. Transferred south to North Weald in 1955 where it was used by the Station Flight, followed by use as the squadron ‘hack’ by 219 Squadron at Driffield. At the time the squadron was operating Venom NF2s, but it disbanded in July 1957.

XE856 was then placed into storage at St Athan for a number of years before being one of a number purchased by Hawker Siddeley Aviation in October 1967 for possible refurbishment and sales overseas. This did not happen; the airframe was sold for preservation and spent a number of years at various locations.

In June 1998 it moved from Yorkshire to Henlow where Dawn to Dusk Aviation intended to restore it to flying condition, placing it on the civil register as G-DUSK in February 1999. Little work was undertaken and by 2005 the Group had to find a new home, moving XE856 to Jet Heritage at Bournemouth in September 2005. Again little work was completed and the aircraft was sold to the museum in 2008. It has been restored to the colours it wore with 219 Squadron.

The original de Havilland Vampire fighter was the second jet to enter service with the RAF, after the Meteor. The design featured twin booms carrying the tailplane, so enabling the full thrust of the low powered Goblin jet to be available. The prototype first flew on 29 September 1943 and the F1 version entered service with 247 Sqd in March 1946. The pilot had a good view forward from his high mounted cockpit and four Hispano-Suiza cannons were mounted under the nose. As part of its trials the Vampire became the first jet to land on an aircraft carrier in December 1945. More powerful engines led to the F3 and then a new role as a low level fighter bomber – the FB5 and FB9. These versions carried underwing bombs or rockets. The Vampire was well liked by its pilots and it served with a large number of RAF squadrons. It proved successful in the export market, with air forces ranging from Sweden to Venezuela, Italy to India operating it. Overseas production was also undertaken by Australia and Switzerland. The Vampire was replaced by the de Havilland Venom in its fighter role, but a number remained in use for training.

In 1950 de Havilland proceeded with the twin seat Vampire Trainer with the prototype completed at their Christchurch factory and flown in November 1950. After trials with the RAF, they placed large orders for the Vampire T11 as their new advance trainer. Initial production was undertaken at Christchurch and first deliveries made to 202 and 208 Advance Flying Schools in 1953. After basic training on Provosts, new pilots would then progress to the Vampire T11. They were also used by the Royal Navy and, as with the fighter version, large numbers were sold overseas – Sweden to New Zealand, Ireland to Indonesia. The Vampire T11 was replaced in RAF service by the Gnat T1 from 1962, although some remained until November 1967. Total production of Vampire Trainers amounted to 804 aircraft.

Vampires were part of the Bournemouth scene in the early 1950s as all aircraft built at Christchurch were flown to Bournemouth for final testing prior to delivery to the RAF or whichever overseas air force. During the 1960s it would occasionally see visits of T11s from 3 CAACU based at Exeter. In the 1990s preserved Vampires could be seen at Bournemouth being operated by Jet Heritage and Source Classic Jets.