De Havilland DH.113 Vampire NF
De Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1949 · fighter
The De Havilland DH.113 was a night-fighter development of the Vampire, featuring a widened side-by-side two-seat cockpit and AI radar equipment for all-weather interception duties.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Side-by-side two-seat night fighter cockpit in a widened Vampire nose pod
- Twin tail boom layout inherited from the standard Vampire
- AI radar nose radome replacing the single-seat pointed nose
Distinguished from the single-seat Vampire by its noticeably wider, more rounded nose pod housing side-by-side crew and AI radar; the twin-boom tail and mid-mounted tapered wing remain identical to the standard Vampire.
Specifications
- The De Havilland DH.113 Vampire NF has a length of 10.5 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.6 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 868 km/h (539 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
De Havilland developed the DH.113 as a private venture night-fighter version of the Vampire to meet a Royal Air Force requirement. The RAF ultimately chose the Meteor NF series, but Egypt ordered 12 aircraft and Iraq placed a smaller order. The type entered service with the Egyptian Air Force in 1950. During the 1956 Suez crisis, Egyptian DH.113s saw brief operational use.
Variants
The DH.113 Vampire NF.10 served with the RAF in limited numbers as a trainer; export versions went to Egypt and Iraq.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF as the Vampire NF.10, and with the Egyptian and Iraqi air forces as night-fighter interceptors; numbers were small and service was relatively brief.
Related aircraft
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