Production
of the Vampire started just too late for it to see service in World War II.
This very successful design was produced in several versions and flew with the
air forces of more than 15 countries. In 1948 it was the first jet fighter to
enter the RCAF.
The Vampire's
twin-boom configuration enabled the jet
tailpipe to remain short in order to extract as
much thrust as possible from the somewhat
low-powered engines of the day. The prototype
Sea Vampire was the first jet aircraft to fly
from an aircraft carrier.
