Archived Topic
Topic ID 4680
20/09/2009 by shunt
Vampire?
This afternoon I became aware of an unusual sounding jet approaching at low altitude. A high pitched whistle, as opposed to the roar modern jets make. A few seconds later what I think was a Vickers Vampire went over. Anybody else see it? Is my identification correct?
Single engine in line with the fuselage, twin tails.
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 67100
20/09/2009 by Steve
Heading South-East? I think I saw the tail.
Reply ID 67101
20/09/2009 by Quatermass
Didn't see it but do you mean a de havilland vampire?
Reply ID 67102
21/09/2009 by Steve
The Vampire Preservation Group are based at North Weald and operate one of the last remaining operational Vampires. The plane I saw was heading in that direction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire
Reply ID 67103
21/09/2009 by Joby
I saw it, but had no idea what it was until I read this thread [:)] Funny you mention the whistle, as that's the reason I looked out of the window.
Reply ID 67104
21/09/2009 by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Quatermass
Didn't see it but do you mean a de havilland vampire?
Couldn't tell if it was one made before or after the merger from the ground.
Reply ID 67105
21/09/2009 by Leo Densian
I saw it over Harlow on Saturday morning - lovely sight
Reply ID 67107
21/09/2009 by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Quatermass
Didn't see it but do you mean a de havilland vampire?
Couldn't tell if it was one made before or after the merger from the ground.
Haha! The Vickers Vampire is a completely different aircraft. It's a biplane that first flew in 1917.
Reply ID 67112
21/09/2009 by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Quatermass
Didn't see it but do you mean a de havilland vampire?
Couldn't tell if it was one made before or after the merger from the ground.
Haha! The Vickers Vampire is a completely different aircraft. It's a biplane that first flew in 1917.
My mistake. I'm working from unreliable web info, not being a aero enthusiast myself. The original bi-plane which carried the name did come up too, but the jet is listed as a Vickers on one site and De-Havilland on another. Since the two became one, I assumed falsely it seems, that it was an inherited design, much as BAE now uses various names from the companies it absorbed. Having just delved a little deeper, I see Vickers didn't become part of BAC until 1960.
Reply ID 67121
21/09/2009 by Quatermass
In fear of being off topic De Havilland became part of Hawker Siddeley in 1960 at the same time Vickers Armstrongs Aircraft became part of British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). BAC and Hawker Siddeley Avation were merged to become BAe in 1977.
Reply ID 67137
22/09/2009 by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Quatermass
In fear of being off topic De Havilland became part of Hawker Siddeley in 1960 at the same time Vickers Armstrongs Aircraft became part of British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). BAC and Hawker Siddeley Avation were merged to become BAe in 1977.
Thanks Q. I recognised this aircraft from a poster when I was a child (probably came with an Eagle comic or, similar) and vaguely linked it to the name Vampire. Never seen one fly before. As a child, I think the name stuck in memory because of Hammer films of the time.
Reply ID 67140
22/09/2009 by Deveraux
Wasn't there an old Vampire jet in Hertford once, at the ATC base that was near the former police station?
Reply ID 67144
22/09/2009 by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by Deveraux
Wasn't there an old Vampire jet in Hertford once, at the ATC base that was near the former police station?
Yes. It later moved to Ware.
12 replies