CA-27 Sabre an Australian built version of the North American F-86 Sabre. Operated by the RAAF and later the Indonesian and Malaysian Air Forces.
With the development of jet aircraft, the Royal Navy was keen to evaluate their suitability for operation from aircraft carriers. As a result, the third de Havilland Vampire prototype LZ551/G was modified with 40% extra flaps, long travel oleos and an arrestor hook to become prototype Sea Vampire F.10. This aircraft became the first jet to make a deck landing and take-off from an aircraft carrier (from HMS Ocean) on the 3rd December 1945. It was flown by Lt Cdr Eric “Winkle” Brown.
Despite the success of this trial, there were still many misgivings about the suitability of operating jet aircraft routinely from carriers, particularly concerning landing speed and operational range. As a possible solution an experimental flexible “rubber” deck was proposed, whereby jets would not require undercarriage. A reinforced fuselage and the removal of undercarriage allowed the aircraft to belly land on a rubber deck. This would extend range by allowing more fuel to be carried.
Six aircraft were converted from Vampire F.3s for the trial work as the Sea Vampire Mk 21. The prototypes were fitted with a strengthened fuselage for undercarriage-less trials on the rubberised deck. The trials were conducted at RAE Farnborough and then on HMS Warrior between 1949 and 1953. Despite the significant effort towards developing this idea it was found to be an unnecessary concept following the introduction of angled flight decks
The main Sea Vampire variant was the F.20, which although armed with four 20mm cannon was used mainly by training units for familiarization with jet aircraft. A total of 20 were built (including two prototypes).
The Sea Vampire T.22 of which 73 were built was similar to the land based T.11 but built for the Royal Navy. It was not navalised and was not fitted with an arrestor hook.
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.
