airplane Archives - Page 13 of 53 - Destination's Journey

de Havilland Sea Vampire in Australian Service

de Havilland Sea Vampire in Australian Service

In preparation for the arrival of the de Havilland Sea Venom, the Royal Australian Navy required an aircraft to enable pilots to transition from the Hawker Sea Fury. With de Havilland Australia already producing the Vampire T.33 for the RAAF, the RAN ordered five Sea Vampire T.34 trainers. These were given serials A79-837 to 841 and delivered in 1954.

The RAN Sea Vampires were operated at HMAS Albatross by 723 Squadron. When 723 Squadron was decommissioned, on 25 October 1956, the Vampire trainers transferred to 724 Squadron.

In the second half of 1955 the RAN ordered one more aircraft (A79-842) which was delivered in March 1957. An additional four Sea Vampires T.22s were imported from the United Kingdom in August 1959; all retaining their British serial numbers (XA101, XA167, XA766 and XG770).

During operation with the RAN, four Sea Vampires were lost due to accidents. Three accidents resulted in the deaths of the pilots, while the other resulted in serious injuries. The last recorded Vampire flight took place on 28 September 1970 and the aircraft were replaced by the CAC Aermacchi MB-326H (Macchi) from October 1970. The remaining six Vampires were sold during 1970-72 with most going to aviation museums.

Photos of the de Havilland Sea Vampire operated by the British Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm can be found here.

de Havilland Sea Vampire T.22 A79-837 being accepted June 1954

de Havilland Sea Vampire T.22 A79-837 being accepted June 1954

Bristol 37 Tramp

Designed for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the Bristol Tramp was a British steam-powered passenger and airmail transport triplane aircraft. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company only had limited experience with internal combustion engines, but extensive operating knowledge of steam turbine powerplants. As a result, the Tramp was to be powered by a steam turbine, housed in an engine room in the fuselage, driving propellers on the wings via clutches and driveshafts.

Two prototypes were completed in 1921, but the clutches gave continual trouble and neither ever flew. They were utilised as ground test rigs for several years before being broken up.

Blackburn Cubaroo Torpedo Bomber

Blackburn Cubaroo Torpedo Bomber

The Blackburn Cubaroo was designed in response to a British Air Ministry request for a coastal defence torpedo bomber. The aircraft was to have a long range, (800 miles – 1,300km) and be capable of carrying a full-sized 21-inch torpedo. It was thought at the time that this size weapon would be capable of sinking even the most heavily armoured ship. Other torpedo bombers at the time only carried smaller less effective torpedoes.

The Cubaroo was designed to be powered by a single 1,000 hp (750 kW) Napier Cub X-16 engine. The resulting aircraft was the largest single engined biplane to have flown at this time.

First flying in 1924, it was written off after its undercarriage collapsed on 2 February 1925. A second prototype flew in 1925, but the Air Ministry had by then lost interest in single-engine heavy bombers, so the second prototype was used as an engine testbed, flying with the experimental 1,100 hp (820 kW) Beardmore Simoon diesel engine.