de Havilland DH100 Vampire Mk 3 – Canadian Museum of Flight

de Havilland DH 100 Vampire Mk 3

General Description

The Vampire began as an experimental aircraft, with design work beginning at the de Havilland works in 1941, with the first flight at Hatfield in September 1943. The aircraft was entirely a de Havilland project, and it utilized the company’s extensive experience with using moulded plywood for aircraft construction. It was the last time composite wood/metal construction was used in high performance military aircraft. This was the second British designed and built jet fighter to go into service with the RAF, and it was the RCAF‘s first jet type. The Vampire F. 3 made its first flight in November 1946, having increased internal fuel and provision for auxiliary tanks compared to the first model. The aircraft was progressively developed into the FB Mk 5 with a strengthened wing of reduced span capable of carrying a 2,000 lb. ordnance load and first flew on June 23, 1948. Vampires served with the RCAF between 1949-1958 and with many other countries. Almost 4,400 Vampires were built, a quarter of them under licence.

The Vampire was adopted by militaries around the world as the primary replacement for many air force’s piston-powered fighter aircraft. As turbo-jet technology accelerated through the 1950’s the Vampire was quickly made obsolete by newer jets like the F-86 Sabre.

Our de Havilland DH100 Vampire

The Museum’s DH100 Vampire served as RCAF 17058 with 421 Fighter Squadron in Chatham, New Brunswick, and later with 400 Squadron in Toronto, Ontario. By 1958 the RCAF had retired their fleet of Vampires and 17058, along with 23 other Vampires were sold surplus to a US company called Fliteways Inc. of West Bend, Wisconsin.

Fliteways Inc. marketed the Vampires to the civilian world as person jets and was fairly successful in that venture. 17058 was registered as N6860D sold to Dewey-Shepard Boiler Co. of Peru, Indiana. Charles Harris Jr, the VP of the company used the Vampire to regularly fly between the company’s factories in Indiana and Costa Rica. Fliteways also sold 15 of these Vampires to the Mexican Airforce, where they were fondly nicknamed the “Flying Avocado.” By 1968 our Vampire had made its way to the Air Museum of Canada in Calgary, AB. But when the museum failed, it went to Kapuskasing, Ontario and joined Don Campbell’s airplane collection.

Finally, in 1982 Don Campbell donated the aircraft to the Canadian Museum of Flight. Ed, Rose, and Mark Zalesky, along with Gordon Dann drove across Canada to pick up the Vampire and in 1986 our museum had completed a full static display restoration under a Canada Manpower Grant, and it is now designated a piece of Canadian Cultural Property. You can now find the Vampire proudly displayed at our museum where it helps tell the story of Canada’s early steps into the jet age.

The Canadian Museum of Flight is dedicated to preserving Canada’s aviation heritage, from rare artifacts to the very aircraft that shaped our history. Your support allows us to restore, maintain, and share these treasures with the public, inspiring future generations to reach for the skies. Every gift makes a lasting impact — join us in keeping aviation history alive: Donate Now!