De Havilland DH113

Vampire NF10

 

The night fighter DH Vampire variant was a two-seat, private venture of the DH100 Vampire and was allocated the designation DH113 before ultimately leading into the DH115 Vampire Trainer, which is described separately.

 

The first prototype DH Vampire NF10 (G-5-2) was flown for the first time at Hatfield on 28th August 1949 with test pilot Geoffrey Pike at the controls.  Nine days later it made its public debut at the SBAC Show at Farnborough and just a month later Egypt became its first customer when it ordered 12 aircraft.  Sadly, the order was never fulfilled due to a UK Government enforce embargo due to the increasing hostilities between Egypt and Israel.

 

Three other prototypes were built, the third of which was completed as the proptotype Night Fighter, the DH112 Venom.  The DH113 was originally designed as a low-cost export aircraft utilising the wings and tail of the single-seat vampire day-fighter which could accommodate a side-by-side configuration, albeit slight offset behind the pilot.

 

 

Those DH113 Vampire NF10 aircraft that were originally ordered by Egypt were taken into RAF service in the UK and this then led to the further procurement of additional RAF aircraft.  

 

The type was equipped with an AI Mk X radar and was also operated by the Indian and Italian Air Forces.

 

Total production was of 93 aircraft, comprising three prototypes, 76 aircraft for the RAF and 14 Vampire NF54 aircraft for the Italian Air Force. The Indian Air Force received 30 ex-RAF NF10 aircraft delivered between 1957 and 1958.

 

 

The enlarged nose section resulted in concerns over both directional and longitudinal stability as well as overall control and because of this the prototype was test flown with enlarged triangular tail fins.

 

These were later found not to be necessary and were not fitted to production aircraft.

 

 

An increase in tailplane span was required however and this is a characteristic feature of Production two-seat Vampires.  

 

The extended tailplane was also used by the DH112 Venom and Sea Venom.

 

Powerplant	3,350 lbst DH Goblin 3
Span	38ft 0in
Maximum Weight	13,100 lb
Capacity and Armament	Two crew and four 20mm Hispano cannon
Maximum Speed	538 mph at sea level
Range	1,220 miles with drop tanks

Number built

Prototypes	3
Production	90 (76 NF10 for RAF, 14 NF54 for Italy); 30 ex-RAF NF10 to India

Survivors