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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0108.PDF
FLIGHT January 20th, 1949 J\urul Jet Characteristics of the de Havilland Sea Vampire Mk 20 Deck-landing Fighter ; Range of 1,145 Miles DESIGNATED in full, D.H.ioo Sea Vampire F.Mk. 20, the carrier-borne development of thede Havilland Vampire now in production for theRoyal Navy differs appreciably from its shore-based counterpart, the Vampire F.B. Mk. 5. Both types are powered by a Goblin 2 turbojet of 3,000 lb static thrust and have the short-span (38ft) wing, but the Naval machine is characterized by dive-brakes and flaps of increased area and is fitted with an arrester hook. This latter is of dis- tinctive design, being attached to the wing-root ribs and faired into the tail of the nacelle, above the jet pipe. Take-off is normally deck-accelerated, and hooks for the accelerator bridle are standard fitments. The total fuel capacity (including two 100-gallon drop-tanks) is 530 gallons, which brings the all-up weight to 12,660 lb. A provisional weight break-down follows: Structure, 3,030 1b; power unit installation, 1,890 lb; guns and armour, 860 lb; ammunition (600 rounds), 375 lb; radio, no lb; fuel system, 2.35 hours. The still air range (defined as the range with allowance for fuel used in take-off, climb and descent, the distance covered on climb and descent being included) is 590 miles at sea level, cruising at 350 m.p.h.; at the same speed, but at a height of 30,000ft, the range is expended to 1,145 miles, illustrating the advantage of high-altitude operation with an aircraft of this type. Without assistance, the take-off distance to 50ft is 1,310 yards. The top speed is 457 knots (526 m.p.h.), and the time of climb to 25,000ft (combat power; no external equipment) is 10 minutes. In performance and overall efficiency the Sea Vampire 20 is much superior to the prototype "LZ 551," a modified Vampire, which on December 3rd, 1945, made fifteen successful landings-on, and take-offs from, H.M.S. Ocean, thus achieving the distinction of being the first pure-jet aircraft to operate from an aircraft carrier. Sea Vampire 20s, similar to the example depicted (except that this par- ticular machine is flying without its arrester hook), were <^ 560 1b; miscellaneous items, 1,173 lb» pilot, parachute and dinghy, 218 1b; internal fuel, 2,674 lb; drop-tanks and external fuel, 1,770 lb. The structure weight is quoted according to the de Havilland definition, and excludes canopy, cockpit equipment, flying and engine controls, hydraulic, electric and pneumatic gear, engine mountings and cowlings. At sea level, the patrol duration is two hours at 220 m.p.h., but at 30,000ft and 350 m.p.h. this is increased to operated during the early phases of " Exercise Sunrise" last year, and were illustrated in Flight of December 16th. Two pilots of the Carrier Trials Unit (Lt. G. Baldwin, D.S.C., and Lt. K. Shepherd) made over 200 landings. No details of Sea Vampire variants subsequent to the Mk. 20 are available, but it has lately become apparent that important development possibilities, unsuspected even a few months ago, may be latent in the basic Vam- pire design.
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