de Havilland Vampire

AIRCRAFT  DETAILS

REGISTRATION — VH-T55

MANUFACTURER — De Haviland

POWERPLANT — De Haviland Goblin 3 Centrifugal-Flow Turbojet Engine

SPAN — 11.58m

LENGTH — 9.37m

MAX SPEED — 476kt   (882km/hr)

RANGE — 1060NM (1960KM)

FIRST FLIGHT - 20 September 1943

TOTAL BUILT - 3268

INTORDUCED - 1946

PRODUCED - 1944 – 1961

VARIANTS - 30+

RETIRED - 1990

USERS - 32 Military Air Arms

ARMAMENT

Four x 20mm Hispano cannon, underwing provision for drop tanks, two 1,000lb bombs or eight 3 inch rocket projectiles.

Paul Bennet Airshows is thrilled to announce the addition of the de Havilland T‑55 Vampire, VH‑T55, to its distinguished airshow lineup. This aircraft is particularly noteworthy as it is currently Australia’s only airworthy Vampire jet, bringing an unrivalled piece of aviation heritage back to Australian skies.

Originally developed by de Havilland in the United Kingdom during the 1940s, the Vampire was a groundbreaking design—one of the world’s first jet-powered fighters—with its iconic twin-boom tail and distinctive silhouette. The T‑55 variant is a two-seat trainer version of the aircraft, built under licence in Switzerland and operated by several European air forces during the Cold War era.

The newly acquired VH‑T55 has a rich history, having spent over 14 years with the Waterloo Warbirds collection in Canada before being carefully restored and exported to Australia. It is now based in New South Wales and undergoing final preparations ahead of its Australian airshow debut.

The arrival of VH‑T55 also reconnects with an important chapter in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) history. The Vampire was the RAAF’s first operational jet fighter, entering service in 1946 and eventually becoming the backbone of Australia’s early jet training programs. Locally built versions served across multiple RAAF squadrons until their retirement in the early 1970s.

“This aircraft is a showstopper—not just for its looks and sound, but for what it represents,” said Paul Bennet, Chief Pilot and Director of Paul Bennet Airshows. “The Vampire symbolises the RAAF’s transition to the jet age. To have the only flying example in the country is a huge honour and something we’re incredibly proud to share with the Australian public.”

VH‑T55 joins a growing fleet of historically significant warbirds and display aircraft operated by Paul Bennet Airshows, and is set to appear at several major events in the upcoming 2025–2026 season.