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de Havilland Vampire

de Havilland · Fighter / Attack · UK · WWII (1939–1945)

The de Havilland Vampire was Britain's second jet fighter, following the Gloster Meteor into service and becoming a major post-war export success. Entering Royal Air Force service in 1946 — too late for WWII — it equipped RAF, Commonwealth, and foreign squadrons into the 1960s. More than 25 nations flew the type, spanning Latin America, Europe, and the Commonwealth. Production reached 3,268 airframes, and the final examples served with the Royal Swiss Air Force until 1990. The Vampire remains one of the iconic British post-war jets and a commercial milestone for de Havilland.

A single-engine twin-boom design, the Vampire measured 31 ft (9.4 m) long with a 38 ft (11.6 m) wingspan. Empty weight was around 7,300 lb and maximum take-off weight 12,300 lb. Power came from a single de Havilland Goblin turbojet rated at 3,350 lbf — modest by later standards but typical of the early jet era. Maximum speed reached 540 mph (Mach 0.71), with a service ceiling of 41,000 ft and a typical combat radius of 480 nmi with external fuel. The aircraft's twin-boom configuration — a central nacelle with rear booms carrying the horizontal stabiliser — became a de Havilland signature, repeated on the Venom and Sea Vixen. Armament was 4× 20 mm Hispano cannon, with hardpoints supporting bombs and rockets across the fighter-bomber variants.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The de Havilland Vampire is Britain's second jet fighter, after the Meteor. It first flew in 1943 and entered service in 1946, just after World War II. The Vampire is unusual because it has only one jet engine and a strange twin-tail design that looks like a fork.

The Vampire was small and quick, with a single Goblin engine pushing it to 540 mph, faster than most race cars on a track. Its body was made mostly of wood, which was a leftover trick from de Havilland's famous WWII Mosquito plane. Wood made the Vampire light and quick to build.

The Vampire became famous as a first jet plane for many countries. Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, India, and over 20 others bought it. New pilots learned to fly jets on the Vampire trainer version, sitting side by side with their teachers.

About 3,268 Vampires were built between 1944 and 1957. The Royal Air Force flew them as fighters until 1955 and as trainers until 1967. Today around 30 Vampires still fly, mostly at airshows.

Fun Facts

The Vampire's body is made mostly of wood, the same as the WWII Mosquito.
It was the first jet plane to take off and land on an aircraft carrier in 1945.
The Vampire's twin-boom tail design looks like a Y from above.
Over 20 countries bought Vampires, including India, Egypt, Switzerland, and Sweden.
The Vampire trainer version had two seats side by side, unusual for a jet.
About 30 Vampires still fly today at airshows in Europe and the U.S.
Pilots called the Vampire 'the Kiddycar' because it was small and fun to fly.

Kids’ Questions

Why does it have a forked tail?

The Vampire's engine is short and stubby, sitting right in the middle of the plane. To make room for the engine's exhaust, the designers put the tail on two skinny booms that stick out behind the wings. The shape looks strange, but it works well and made the Vampire faster.

Why was it made of wood?

de Havilland was famous for building the wooden WWII Mosquito, so they were experts at gluing wood into airplane shapes. Wood was light, easy to find, and didn't need scarce metal during wartime. Even after the war, the wood made the Vampire cheap and quick to build.

Where can I see one today?

Vampires fly at airshows in Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They are often painted in bright training colors. Some museums also have Vampires on display, including the de Havilland Aircraft Museum in England.

Variants

Vampire F.1 / F.3 (initial 1946): Original 1946 production variants; ~70 F.1s and ~196 F.3s built. Backbone of early RAF Vampire squadrons.
Vampire FB.5 (fighter-bomber 1948+): Fighter-bomber variant with ~1,158 built — the largest single Vampire production run. Equipped RAF, Commonwealth, and foreign air arms.
Vampire FB.6 / FB.9 (improved post-WWII): Improved fighter-bomber variants serving RAF and foreign operators.
Vampire T.11 / T.55 (two-seat trainer): Two-seat trainer derivatives used by the RAF and export customers.
Vampire NF.10 (night fighter): Night-fighter variant; limited frontline use.
Sea Vampire (naval): Naval carrier variant flown in limited numbers by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.
Vampire Mk.50 / Mk.55 series (export): Export variants. Switzerland (~178), Sweden, Italy, France, India, and others.

Notable Operators

Royal Air Force (former): The principal operator, with ~770 Vampires in service from 1946 until retirement in 1955. Served as the RAF's post-war jet fighter and fighter-bomber.
Foreign / international operators (25+ nations): Switzerland (~178, the longest operator, retired 1990), Sweden, Italy, France, India (combat in the 1947-1948 and 1965 Indo-Pakistani Wars), Pakistan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Norway, Finland, Iraq, Jordan, Rhodesia, and others. The Vampire was among the most widely exported British post-war jets.
Preservation / civilian operators: Around 80 surviving airframes are preserved worldwide, with several airworthy examples flying at airshows. Display aircraft are held by the RAF Museum Hendon, Imperial War Museum Duxford, and a range of British and Swiss aviation museums.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Vampire have a twin-boom configuration?

The layout was driven by the de Havilland Goblin engine. As a centrifugal-flow turbojet, the Goblin had a large diameter that demanded a wide fuselage cross-section. Mounting it in a short central nacelle and carrying the tail surfaces on twin booms gave: (1) clean engine installation with short jet pipe; (2) reduced fuselage drag versus an elongated rear-engine layout; and (3) good weight balance and structural efficiency. The configuration became a de Havilland family trait, repeated on the Venom and Sea Vixen. It was unique among Allied jet fighters of the WWII / early post-war period, although twin booms had been common on propeller aircraft such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

What was the Vampire's combat record?

Vampires saw action across Cold War-era conflicts. The Indian Air Force flew them in the 1948 First Indo-Pakistani War; RAF, French, and Israeli Vampires saw limited use during the 1956 Suez Crisis; and Indian Vampires fought Pakistani aircraft in the 1965 Second Indo-Pakistani War. Latin American and African operators also deployed the type in local actions. The 1965 war produced the heaviest combat losses, with Indian Vampires engaging more modern Pakistani fighters. Across multiple decades, the Vampire's broad export base gave it more combat exposure than most first-generation British jets.

Why did Switzerland operate the Vampire for so long?

Swiss neutrality and steady fleet investment kept the type flying for 44 years. The Swiss Air Force operated ~178 Vampires from 1946 to 1990 — longer than any other user. Drivers included: (1) restrictive Swiss arms-procurement policies tied to neutrality; (2) the alpine operating environment, which suited the Vampire's modest performance and reliable Goblin engine; (3) sustained Swiss investment in fleet support and local modifications; and (4) limited replacement options at successive decision points. The 1990 Swiss retirement marked the end of Vampire frontline service worldwide.

Did the Vampire fly from carriers?

Yes — through the Sea Vampire variant. On 3 December 1945, Sea Vampire LZ551/G, flown by Lieutenant-Commander Eric 'Winkle' Brown, made the first-ever jet landing on an aircraft carrier when it touched down on HMS Ocean — a naval aviation milestone. Sea Vampire production was limited and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm use was largely confined to training. Front-line carrier work passed to the Sea Hawk and Sea Venom. The Sea Vampire's lasting contribution was demonstrating that jet aircraft could operate routinely from carrier decks.

How does the Vampire compare to the Meteor?

Both were Britain's first-generation jets. The Gloster Meteor entered service in 1944, was twin-engined, and reached ~3,947 built. The de Havilland Vampire entered service in 1946, was single-engined, and reached 3,268 built. Both equipped the RAF and foreign air arms. The Meteor came first and saw WWII action intercepting V-1s; the Vampire had the larger post-war export base and the longer Swiss service tail. Both were eclipsed in the 1950s by the F-86 Sabre, MiG-15, and later jets.

Sources

RAF Museum — de Havilland Vampire
Wikipedia — de Havilland Vampire — CC BY-SA.