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Our Aircraft/Performane Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 30 ft 9 in

Wingspan: 38 ft 

Height: 8 ft 10 in 

Max. takeoff weight: 12,390 lb 

Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Goblin 3 centrifugal turbojet, 3,350 lbf 

Performance

Maximum speed: 548 mph

Range: 1,220 mi 

Service ceiling: 42,800 ft 

Rate of climb: 4,800 ft/min

Armament

Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano Mk.V cannon with 600 Rounds total (150 RPG).

Rockets: 8 × 3-inch "60 lb" rockets

Bombs: or 2 × 500 lb (225 kg) bombs or two drop-tanks


Vampy 1

T-55
N593RH ex-Swiss U-1226
Green/Blue
Based at KARA

Vampy 2

T-55
N23105 ex-Swiss U-1222
Tan/Brown
Based at KARA

Vampy 3

T-55
N171LA ex-Swiss U-1229
Silver
Based at KOLU

Vampy 4

T-55
N115DH ex-Swiss U-1206, ex-Royal Navy XG775 
Blue
Based at KBYH

Vampy 5

T-55
N172LA ex- Indian AF BY385 
Black
Based at KSGU

Vampy 6

T-11
N920DH ex-RAF XE920
Gray/yellow
Based at KPSP

Vampy 7 DH-100 Vampire Fighter Interceptor FB-6


History: With World War II entering its middle phase, there was a need for a new fighter, agile, fast, and lethal . The deHavilland DH 100 Vampire FB-6 fighter was the solution. It was first flown on September 2, 1943, and entered service three years later in 1946 and known as the Vampire FB.Mk.1.

By the time production finally ended, 3,269 Vampires had been built in England and a further 1,067 built under licence abroad. The Vampre remained as a front-line fighter for the RAF until 1953, after which it was retained only in the pilot training and refresher role. Elsewhere, the aircraft had surprisingly longevity with large numbers still in service in several air forces in the 1980s. The Swiss Air Force was the last Vampire user, retiring their sizeable fleet of DH Vampire FB.6s and T.55s from active service as late as 1990.