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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1847.PDF
3> , /rt»~ FLIGHT \ / D E HAVILLAND VAMPIRE AND HORN > in sheer performance. Just because it is based on con- ventional power-units, the Hornet is really the more remarkable of the two aircraft, since the performance has been obtained by sheer design refinement. Whereas the Vampire exceeds 500 m.p.h. in level flight—at an unspecified height, but presumably at the 20,000ft.-plus levels—the Hornet maximum is better than 470 m.p.h. ; and whereas the Vampire's ceiling nears 50,000ft., that of the Hornet is around 35,000ft. History of Goblin The story of the Vampire and its Goblin jet engine, J& far as it can be told, is one of swift development, yet the plans are so comparatively old in aviation history that one is amazed at the way in which wartime secrets can be kept. The work on the power unit's drawings were first started by. the D.H. Engine Company as long ago as April, 1941, and the engine was on the test-bed April, TO.42. In March, 1943, before the Vamp ready, the Goblin made its first flights in the' Gloster Meteor U, and, more interesting still, examples of these engines were flown to A/nerica late in 1943 for installa- tion in the prototype Lockheed Shooting Star. In fact, when this aircraft was first credited with a level speed*• of more than 500 m.p.h. it was powered with this British engine. Meanwhile, the Vampire itself had started its developments tests in the hands of Messrs. Geoffrey de Havilland and Geoffrey Pike at Hatfield, and was probably the first aircraft either here or in America to exceed that interesting mid-thousand figure in level flight, and may at present be the fastest aircraft in production in the world. So much for history. Unlike the Mosquito, the Vampire is of all-metal con- struction with the exception of the control cabin—an all- wood carapace structure which can, of course, be pressurised to combat the effects of high-altitude flying on the pilot. No details of the design or structure may jT"~nt. but it will be seen that, though unconventional ^tf$*^appearance with its bo^ned tail, it sl|Q carries an inevitable D.H.-nessinTWline. Apart from a vague refeVnce
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