De Havilland Vampire Roundabout

The legendary Vampire DH-100 was restored for the opening of the new Aviation Museum and installed above the airport roundabout.

From 1978 the Air Force used the J-1111 as a target aircraft for anti-aircraft defense. Like sixteen other aircraft, it was painted orange and black for these missions. This coat of paint gave the planes the name "Maya the Bee".

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_DH.100_Vampire

Development initially began as an experimental aircraft in the summer of 1942 in accordance with specification E.6/41. The first flight of the prototype, registered LZ548/G, took place on September 30, 1943 and was piloted by Geoffrey de Havilland jun. carried out. Flight testing was delayed when the only available engine had to be shipped to the United States to replace the Lockheed P-80's damaged single engine there. Due to the fact that de Havilland was being used to capacity with other aircraft types, series production was additionally delayed, so that the first machine in the Mk I production series did not take off for its maiden flight until April 1945.

The machine showed very good flight performance and flight characteristics. It was the first British model to reach a top speed of more than 500 miles per hour (about 806 km/h). On December 3, 1945, test pilot Eric Melrose Brown became the first jet-powered aircraft to land and take off from an aircraft carrier (HMS Ocean). In 1948 it reached a new altitude record of 18,119 m.

Based on the positive tests, a special version was developed for the Fleet Air Arm with the DH.100 Mk.5 Sea Vampire. In addition to its role as a fighter, the Sea Vampire could also be used as a ground attack aircraft.

The DH.113 was a 1949 two-seat night fighter with radar equipment originally intended for Egypt. The DH.115 training aircraft was created on this basis.

The last version produced was the DH.100 Mk.11 or DH.115 trainer aircraft, which was used from 1950 and over 600 of which were produced.