Warbird Information Exchange

Any idea when the HAL built Vampires went out of service? How many were built? How many DeHavillands did they have? How many left?

Will have to look up the info - but here's something for look-see:

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... mpire.html


Martin / Swiss Mustangs

Sorry for this very delayed reply, I somehow seem to have missed this question.

The Vampires were phased out begining of 1975. The last ever sortie is detailed at this link. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Histo ... jwani.html The last sortie is certainly flown by an HAL built example.

As far as the numbers procured:

Vampire F.3 : 3
Vampire FB.52 :Approx 300 (all but 39 of these were built by HAL)
Vampire NF.54: 30
Vampire T.55: 82

Only the FB52s were built in India, rest are all direct supply from UK.

Following Survivors are noted in my Database. There could still be a few more that have not been found yet.

F.3 HB-546 AFTC, Jallahali Bangalore
FB52 -NA- Airforce School, Subroto Park, Delhi Delhi
FB52 IB-799 Vintage Flight, IAF Museum Palam Delhi
FB52 IB-1618 Hakimpet AFS 'FTW1971' Hyderabad
FB52 IB-1638 Vampire Triangle, AFA Dundigal Hyderabad
NF10 ID-606 IAF Museum Palam Delhi
T55 IN-149 Naval Air Museum, Dabolim Goa

I know 7 out of 411 is really pathetic, but towards end of 1975 many Vampires have been sold off as scrap.

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Warbirds of India

Given the wooden construction of the fuselage pod, I wonder how many of the those parked outside are likely to survive long-term.

Mike,

Good question. In many of the cases, the deterioration had already taken its toll - and in some cases it has been stopped . Here is a case by case review

F.3 HB-546 AFTC, Jallahali Bangalore

Aircraft's fuselage pod is too far 'gone' due to 50+ years of storage in the open. However recently some repair work was done - nothing substantial, but only cosmetic. The fuselage skinning was put in place and a 'cradle' structure was built beneath the pod to support it.

FB52 -NA- Airforce School, Subroto Park, Delhi Delhi

No information available on this one. I have not seen any pictures of it either.

FB52 IB-799 Vintage Flight, IAF Museum Palam Delhi

This is stored inside and is maintained in Airworthy / Potential airworthy condition, so nothing to worry about.

FB52 IB-1618 Hakimpet AFS 'FTW1971' Hyderabad

This aircraft is stored outside. Some fuselage reconstruction was made with metal strengthening and all. Most of the insides have been stripped out during the restoration.

FB52 IB-1638 Vampire Triangle, AFA Dundigal Hyderabad

This aircraft was the subject of a major 'restoration'. The pod had crumpled over the years due to the presence of the engine!. four years back, the engine was removed and the entire fuselage was reconstructed. The engine and instruments were moved to a nearby museum. A photo of this aircraft is in the link above.


NF10 ID-606 IAF Museum Palam Delhi

Stored Inside and essentially in good condition. No restoration necessary.

T55 IN-149 Naval Air Museum, Dabolim Goa

This was rebuilt by the Navy and due to the fact it is stored in a museum, sufficient care is taken care of. However it is stored outside, in a coastal area, and a monsoon area too! But it will survive.


In almost all theabove cases, 'restoration' of the pod means a cosmetic restoration. It may not be a faithful restoration as seen in the west. The priority was to get these aircraft back to pubic display status than to undertake a true return to its original condition.


In addition to the above, atleast four of the Vampires from India made it to the US. Including the FB52 at the SpruceGoose museum (I think)

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Warbirds of India

Which includes the one that flew late last year in the US!