Vampire Test Report

[Nigel H-J]

Just came across this interesting article and may be of special interest to Peter as he used to fly them.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/ ... ndling.pdf

Kind regards
Nigel.

[Dev One]

A fantastic site with loads more reading..........
Thanks for sharing.
Keith

[petermcleland]

Thanks Nigel, that was very interesting. I never flew any earlier mark than the 5, so I noted that considerable changes to the handling had been made by the time I come along. I did not fly them for very long as my first squadron (266), which I joined in November 1952, re-equipped with the Venom FB1 in April 1953 then later again with the Venom FB4. One thing I remember well about the Vampire 5 was the tendency to violently flick roll in a high speed stall...If this was not immediately corrected, it would very soon become a full blooded spin...As Terry Kingley recalls in his book "In The Red" on page 42. BTW the "reassuring voice of my instructor informed me"...was my voice

[Nigel H-J]

Pleased you both found it interesting, certainly had me engrossed for some time.

Peter, out of interest when approaching a high speed stall (presumably in a tight turn) did the Vampire 5 give any warning such as buffeting or did it just roll without warning?

Many thanks

Kind regards
Nigel.

[petermcleland]

Pleased you both found it interesting, certainly had me engrossed for some time.

Peter, out of interest when approaching a high speed stall (presumably in a tight turn) did the Vampire 5 give any warning such as buffeting or did it just roll without warning?

No warning...just a sudden flick which, if you were expecting it, you could just as suddenly stop it by immediate easing of back pressure. Even the later Venom FB1 had the same problem initially and a few people were killed by spinning in from too low an altitude to recover...Then they fitted the little fixed slats at the wingtips on the leading edge and the aircraft was transformed...No more flicking at the stall just a fierce increasing rumble, which was easy to recognise and hold away by easing the back pressure to just ahead of the rumble and get maximum rate of turn. The little slats made of alloy with I think two little wooden rib formers, were reputedly made by the apprentices.

An important element of dogfighting was to be able to hold a max rate turn, of superior rate to your opponent...You had to be able to do this in order to point your guns ahead of him in the turn...Without that you couldn't possibly shoot him down. Remember, this is all in the days before missiles.

[Nigel H-J]

Thanks Peter, a very interesting read.

Kind regards
Nigel.