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Subject: De Havilland DH112 Venom
Date: 23 Jul 2018 06:01:06 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Venom
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom is a British post-war single-engined jet aircraft
developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Much of its
design was derived from the de Havilland Vampire, the firm's first jet-powered
combat aircraft.
The Venom entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF), where it was used as a
single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter. A dedicated model for
aerial reconnaissance was also operated by the Swiss Air Force. The Venom
functioned as an interim stage between the first generation of British jet
combat aircraft, such as the Hawker Hunter and de Havilland Sea Vixen.
Accordingly, the type had a relatively short service life in the RAF, being
withdrawn from frontline operations by the service in 1962 as a result of the
introduction of more capable designs. However, it was used in combat during the
Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency, and the Aden Emergency.
The Venom proved to be popular on the export market, being sold in substantial
numbers to Iraq, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela. The Swiss Air
Force was the last active military operator of the Venom, retiring their last
examples during 1983. Large numbers of ex-military Venoms have since been
acquired by private entities and several have continued to fly, performing
aerial displays at various air shows, while many examples have been preserved in
static display conditions in museums and as gate guardians. A specialised
derivative, the Sea Venom, was produced as a navalised version of the aircraft
suitable for carrier operations.
In 1948, de Havilland proposed a development of the Vampire, furnished with a
thin wing and a more powerful engine, to serve as a high altitude fighter,
designated as the Vampire FB 8. The design gradually shifted, becoming the DH
112 Venom, in order to fill an Air Ministry requirement, Specification F.15/49,
which sought a fast, manoeuvrable and capable fighter-bomber to replace the
Royal Air Force's (RAF) existing Vampires in that capacity. From the onset, the
envisioned role had been intended as an interim fighter-bomber, while the
development of aircraft capable of even greater performance had already been
anticipated by the service.
Although generally similar in appearance to the preceding Vampire, sharing the
distinctive twin-boom tail and composite wood/metal structure, the Venom was a
completely new design. As originally designed, it was powered by the de
Havilland Ghost 103 turbojet engine, which was capable of generating 4,850lb of
thrust, considerably more powerful than the earlier de Havilland Goblin that had
been used on the Vampire. The Venom adopted a wing designed with a leading edge
sweepback of 17.6 degrees, a minimised thickness/chord ratio reduced from 14 per
cent to 10 per cent, while the trailing edge was straight; a pair of
optionally-fitted wing tip tanks were also designed to be fitted without any
negative impact on the aircraft's overall combat maneuvering capability.
The Venom FB 1 was armed with four nose-mounted 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk V
autocannons and could carry either two 1,000 lb (approx 450 kg) bombs or eight
improvement over the Vampire FB 5. For additional range, each of the wing tips
could accommodate the installation of a 75gal tip tank, freeing up the underwing
stores positions for other stores and munitions, these were not jettisonable
during flight. When installed, the tip tanks had the effect of improving the
aircraft's roll rate, which was lower than many of its contemporaries. Early
production Venoms commonly suffered from weaknesses within the wing structure,
leading to flight limitations and warning markings being applied to distinguish
them from typical aircraft.
The Venom FB 1 was powered by a single 4,850 lbf (21.6 kN) thrust Ghost 48 Mk.1
turbojet engine; later marks were equipped with increasingly powerful models.
The engine was ignited using explosive cartridges, known as Coffman engine
starters; at the time, many operators were not previously familiar with such
means of start up. Early production models lacked ejection seats, which was
subject to official criticism; in response, later production models were
furnished with them. The airframe itself had a relatively short life due to
having been designed for its role as a short term interim aircraft; in Swiss
service, where the type was subject to a lengthy service life, several
strengthening modifications were performed to more than double its viable
lifespan. It was known for its simplicity in construction and relative
cost-effectiveness, which contributed to its popularity to export customers.
Role
Fighter-bomber
National origin
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
de Havilland Aircraft Company
First flight
2 September 1949
Introduction
1952
Status
Retired
Primary users
Royal Air Force
Royal Swedish Air Force
Swiss Air Force
Venezuelan Air Force
Number built
1,431 (including Sea Venom/Aquilon)
Developed from
de Havilland Vampire
Variants
de Havilland Sea Venom/Aquilon
RAF Venoms saw action during the Malayan Emergency, which took place between
1948 and 1960, although these aircraft did not commence operations until the
mid-1950s with Nos. 45 and 60 Squadrons. While there, the Venom supported
counterinsurgency operations against Communist guerrillas as part of Operation
Firedog, the codename for RAF operations in Malaya. By 15 November 1957, the day
on which the Venom was withdrawn from combat in the theatre, the type had been
used to conduct in excess of 300 strikes against guerillas. Multiple Venoms were
lent to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) for use during the same
conflict, these were operated by No. 14 Squadron RNZAF.
The Venom also saw combat service during the Suez Crisis during late 1956.
During the conflict, the type was operated by Nos. 6, 8 and 249 Squadrons,
flying from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. The Anglo-French invasion, which was codenamed
Operation Musketeer, took place in response to the nationalisation of the Suez
Canal by Egypt's leader, General Nasser. The air war began on 31 October 1956
signalling the beginning of the Suez War. The Venoms launched a number of
sorties, attacking a variety of military installations on the ground; only a
single RAF Venom was lost throughout the crisis.
From 1956 onwards, Middle Eastern-based RAF squadrons progressively received the
improved Venom FB 4. Starting in 1956, RAF Venoms were deployed during the Aden
Emergency, where they were used in support of counterinsurgency operations
conducted against terrorists and rebel tribesmen in both Aden and Oman. As the
conflict progressed, squadrons equipped with the Venom were reequipped, mainly
by the English Electric Canberra; in 1960, the final squadron in the region that
used the type was reequipped with the Hawker Hunter. Venoms additionally saw
service during the Mau Mau insurgency in Kenya.
In 1962, all of the remaining Venoms in RAF service were withdrawn from
first-line duties, having proven their worth in a variety of locations across
the world, in peace and war, and in some of the most difficult climates the RAF
has ever faced. The last non-RAF Venoms to leave active service were the
aircraft in service with the Swiss Air Force, the last of which being retired
to fly as of 2017, performing at various air shows, while a number of examples
are preserved in museums in the United Kingdom and abroad, in non-flying, static
display condition.
Specifications (Venom FB 1)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 31 ft 10 in (9.70 m)
Wingspan: 41 ft 8 in (12.70 m)
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Empty weight: 9,202 lb (4,173 kg)
Loaded weight: 15,400 lb (7,000 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 640 mph (556 kn, 1,030 km/h)
Range: 1,080 mi (934 nmi, 1,730 km)
Service ceiling: 39,400 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 9,000 ft/min (45.7 m/s)
Thrust/weight: 0.41
Armament
*
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