Inside the Archive #17 | Vampire

The de Havilland DH-115 Vampire T.35 joined the ranks of the RAAF in 1946, three years after it flew for the first time for the British RAF. Powered by a single de Havilland Goblin engine, the turbojet was considered experimental in its time due to its use of just one powerful engine. The plane’s pod-shaped design was constructed out of a mix of wood and metals and was initially dubbed the “Spider Crab”. It measures a length of just over 9 metres, with a wingspan of 11.5 metres.

The aircraft was later developed into new variants that included a twin-seat night fighter, a flight trainer, and a carrier-based aircraft dubbed the Sea Vampire. In total, 3,987 de Havilland Vampires were built between 1943 and 1961 and deployed across six countries, including Australia.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details