de Havilland Venom: Британдық әскери ұшағының тарихы

Fighter aircraft family

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; it was initially referred to as the Vampire FB 8 prior to the adoption of the Venom name. The Venom was developed during the late 1940s to fulfil Air Ministry Specification F.15/49, under which the aircraft was intended to be operated as an interim solution, lying between the first generation of British jet fighters – straight wing aircraft powered by centrifugal flow engines such as the Gloster Meteor and the Vampire – and later swept wing, axial flow engined combat aircraft, such as the Hawker Hunter and de Havilland Sea Vixen. In comparison with the Vampire, it had a thinner wing and a more powerful de Havilland Ghost 103 turbojet engine, making the aircraft more suitable for high altitude flight. Both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy took interest in the type; in order to suit the needs of the latter, a specialised derivative, the Sea Venom, was produced; it was a navalised model of the aircraft that was suitable for carrier operations. A dedicated model for aerial reconnaissance was also procured by the Swiss Air Force. On 2 September 1949, the first Venom prototype, VV612, performed its maiden flight. The Venom entered service with the RAF in 1952, where it was operated as both a single seat fighter bomber and two seat night fighter. Despite the type's relatively short service life with the RAF, British Venoms saw active combat on multiple occasions, including the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency, and the Aden Emergency. It was withdrawn from frontline operations by the service in 1962 following the introduction of more capable aircraft. The Venom had also proved to be popular on the export market, having been sold in substantial numbers to Iraq, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela. The Swiss Air Force was the final operator to use the type in an active military role, finally 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.

During 1948, the British aircraft manufacturer de Havilland proposed a development of the Vampire, furnished with a thinner wing and a more powerful engine, to serve as a high altitude fighter, designated as the 'Vampire FB 8' ("fighter bomber Mark 8"). 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. 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. In May 1950, following the end of company trials, the prototype was delivered to RAF Boscombe Down for official trials by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE). In the course of these trials, the aircraft proved capable of satisfactory performance, including the besting of some contemporary fighters during mock combat, while some minor faults were also uncovered. On 21 April 1952, the first delivery of a production standard Venom, a single seat fighter bomber, was made to the Central Fighter Establishment, where it was used for a full service evaluation prior to the type being cleared for active service. A total of 375 of this initial model were constructed.

On 22 August 1950, an improved Venom, the NF.2 night fighter, performed its first flight, piloted by John Derry. During late 1953, the Venom NF.2 entered squadron service, after being delayed to resolve minor problems that had been discovered. Specifically, preliminary handling trials had revealed unsatisfactory performance in poor weather conditions. The Venom NF.2 was modified after being involved in several accidents in which pilots had difficulty making night time approaches. Changes included the adoption of jettisonable clear canopies and alterations to the flight control surfaces, and the altered aircraft were re designated NF.2As. The Venom NF.2 was soon followed by the NF 3, which was the ultimate night fighter variant of the Venom. It incorporated further improvements, including power actuated ailerons and an improved air interception radar. In 1953, the Venom NF 3 performed its first flight; it entered operational service with the RAF during June 1955. The final Venom model developed for the RAF was the single seat FB.4, which first flew on 29 December 1953. It entered service in 1955 and 250 were built. The FB.4 was powered by a single 4,850 lbf (21.6 kN) thrust de Havilland Ghost 103 engine. It was the first Venom to be fitted with an ejector seat, as well as being furnished with redesigned tail surfaces and hydraulically powered ailerons. The new rudder design prevented excessive yaw and eliminated incidents of rudder locking at low speeds. The FB 4 variant was the first to be compatible with the underwing fuel tanks. On 26 July 1952, the first Hawarden built Venom was delivered to the RAF. At one point, the production of further Venoms at the Bristol Aeroplane Company's Filton facility was considered but was ultimately not pursued. In the early 1970s, Swiss Venoms were equipped with a new extended nose to add space for the addition of a ultra high frequency (UHF) radio, an Identification friend or foe (IFF) transponder and a SAAB BT 9K ballistic computer that was used in conjunction with ground attack ordnance.

The de Havilland Venom was a jet propelled combat aircraft, featuring a distinctive twin boom tail and composite wood/metal structure. Originally developed as a ground attack fighter, it served as an interceptor as well. It possessed a favourable rate of climb and other positive characteristics that lent itself well to combat operations, and represented a significant advance over the preceding Vampire. It was a sound ground attack aircraft, possessing good manoeuvrability, steadiness, endurance, handling, and a range of compatible stores. The Venom FB 1 was armed with four nose mounted 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk V autocannon and could carry either two 1,000 lb (approx 450 kg) bombs or eight RP 3 "60 lb" air to ground rocket projectiles – the heavier bombs being an improvement over the Vampire FB 5. For additional range, each of the wing tips could be fitted with a fuel tank, freeing up the underwing stores positions for other stores and munitions, these tanks could not be jettisoned during flight. The airframe itself had a relatively short life in UK service as it had been designed as a short term interim aircraft pending development of what would become the Hawker Hunter but 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. In this capacity, the Venom was only operated for a short time, those squadrons stationed at RAF Fassberg transitioned to the Hawker Hunter in 1955, while those at RAF Celle were disbanded in 1957. On 6 May 1953, the first of the Venom night fighters was delivered to the RAF. From 1955 onwards, an improved model of the night fighter, the Venom NF.3, was introduced to squadron service. In the night fighter role, the Venom was also adopted by export customers; the Swedish Air Force adopted the type as their principal night fighter in 1955 and operated three squadrons in this capacity. The Venom also saw combat service during the Suez Crisis during late 1956. The type was operated by Nos. 6, 8 and 249 Squadrons, flying from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. In 1957, British RAF Venoms participated heavily during Jebel Akhdar War in Oman to expand the territory of the Sultanate, which was a de facto British colony, in order to gain access to oil wells in the interior parts of Oman. The RAF conducted 1,635 raids, dropping 1,094 tons and firing 900 rockets at the interior of Oman between July and December 1958; insurgents were the primary targets, resulting various mountain top villages, water channels, and crops being struck in a conflict that remained relatively low profile internationally. 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. Outside of the RAF, the Swiss Air Force were the most prolific user of the Venom. which led to the NF 3's nose being slightly altered; 123 produced. FB.4
Final Venom for the RAF, single seat fighter bomber. Ghost 103 engine, ejector seats, powered ailerons and structural modifications; 250 built. It served 1953–1960 at the dedicated night fighter F1 wing at Västerås. Fiat G.80
Proposed licensed built version of the Venom FB.50 to be built in Italy.