Guy Martin flies the De Havilland Vampire
Discussion
Looks like another new program from Guy Martin, to be shown on channel 4, 25th Aug at 9pm.
“ Guy undergoes intensive training to fly the fastest machine he’s ever been let loose in; a classic frontline fighter jet, the De Havilland Vampire. And along the way, he’ll learn all about the jet engine, the maverick genius, Sir Frank Whittle, and the extraordinary British invention that shrank the world, revolutionised travel and changed our lives forever. Guy discovers how a jet engine works by building one himself, in his shed.
Will he cut it as a fighter pilot and prove he has the skills to be a real-life Top Gun?‘
“ Guy undergoes intensive training to fly the fastest machine he’s ever been let loose in; a classic frontline fighter jet, the De Havilland Vampire. And along the way, he’ll learn all about the jet engine, the maverick genius, Sir Frank Whittle, and the extraordinary British invention that shrank the world, revolutionised travel and changed our lives forever. Guy discovers how a jet engine works by building one himself, in his shed.
Will he cut it as a fighter pilot and prove he has the skills to be a real-life Top Gun?‘
On the assumption that he wouldn't be allowed fly an actual single seat Vampire fighter, I expect that this is going to make use of a T11/T55 two seat trainer variant.
I never got to fly in one but I did get to sit an a still active Irish Air Corps Vampire T55 at Baldonnel way back in April 1976.
The Irish Air Corps only retired their Vampires later in 1976.
I never got to fly in one but I did get to sit an a still active Irish Air Corps Vampire T55 at Baldonnel way back in April 1976.
The Irish Air Corps only retired their Vampires later in 1976.
Eric Mc said:
On the assumption that he wouldn't be allowed fly an actual single seat Vampire fighter, I expect that this is going to make use of a T11/T55 two seat trainer variant.
I never got to fly in one but I did get to sit an a still active Irish Air Corps Vampire T55 at Baldonnel way back in April 1976.
The Irish Air Corps only retired their Vampires later in 1976.
At a guess it’s this aircraft. I never got to fly in one but I did get to sit an a still active Irish Air Corps Vampire T55 at Baldonnel way back in April 1976.
The Irish Air Corps only retired their Vampires later in 1976.
https://vampireflight.co.uk/
This should be fascinating - one of the prettiest little aircraft - right from the early days of the Jet Age when Britain arguably ruled the skies.
Quite enjoyed the short film version of Frederick Forsyth’s The Shepherd last year
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XV-ILCXGyxQ
Quite enjoyed the short film version of Frederick Forsyth’s The Shepherd last year
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XV-ILCXGyxQ
Tony1963 said:
Don’t forget to switch your brains off before the programme starts, as it’ll skim over all the interesting details so it fits into the gaps between start, adverts and early finish. I’ll watch, but I’m not expecting an aviation masterpiece.
I’m sure we’ve had this discussion before but it’s not aimed at nerds. 
The Vampire is fitted with a de Havilland Goblin centrifugal flow turbojet which gives it quite a distinctive sound. The Irish Air Corps Vampires used to regularly fly over and near my house in Dublin and they always sounded like whislting kettles to me, especially if they were throttled back on approach.
The Vampires used to pop over from Baldonnel (their base) to Dublin Airport to practice Ground Controlled Approaches (GCA - Talk Down). We'd get their Piston Provosts doing the same type of approach training too.
The Vampires used to pop over from Baldonnel (their base) to Dublin Airport to practice Ground Controlled Approaches (GCA - Talk Down). We'd get their Piston Provosts doing the same type of approach training too.
Anyone remember this at Wolverhampton International Airport….?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX3_mQZ4gY8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX3_mQZ4gY8
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