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de Havilland Venom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| DH 112 Venom | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Fighter-bomber |
| Manufacturer | de Havilland |
| Maiden flight | 2 September 1949 |
| Introduced | FB 1952 NF 1953 |
| Retired | FB 1962 NF 1960 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Fleet Air Arm |
| Number built | 1,480 |
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a postwar jet single-seat fighter-bomber of the Royal Air Force. Two-seater night-fighter and navalized (DH 112 Sea Venom) variants were also built, the latter serving with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), of the Royal Navy (RN).
The Venom and Sea Venom variant was a very successful export design and saw service with Australia, France, New Zealand, Iraq, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela.
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The Venom was developed in response to an Air Ministry requirement for a fast, manoeuvrable and capable fighter-bomber (FB) to replace the de Havilland Vampire, a late Second World War-era aircraft. The Venom's lineage lay in the aircraft it was intended to replace, i.e. the Vampire, which had been the second jet aircraft to enter service with the RAF, (after the Gloster Meteor which saw service during the Second World War). In most respects, the Venom was quite similar to the Vampire; sharing the distinctive twin-boom tail and composite wood/metal structure although the Venom differed in parts.
The precursor to the Venom was a Vampire developmental variant, the FB 8, which was the conversion of a single Vampire F 1 fighter fitted with the new de Havilland Ghost engine, which was more powerful than the de Havilland Goblin engine used on the Vampire. It first flew in 1947. The first Venom prototype flew on 2 September 1949. The first Venom variant, a single-seat fighter-bomber, entered service in 1952 as the FB 1. Three hundred and seventy-five of these would be built and it became one of the first jet ground-attack aircraft in the world. It was armed with four Hispano Mk V 20 mm cannon in the nose, and could carry either two 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs or eight RP-3 ("60 lb") air-to-ground rocket projectiles. It was powered by a single 4,850 lbf (21.6 kN) thrust de Havilland Ghost 48 Mk. 1 centrifugal turbojet engine.
A modernised Sea Venom project, the DH 116, with swept wings and upgraded radar was considered but this project was cancelled as the Royal Navy believed that any replacement needed two engines.
The RAF fighter-bomber Venoms saw service during the Malayan Emergency which took place between 1948 and 1960, though the Venom began operations there in the mid 1950s with No. 45 and No. 60 Squadrons RAF. While there, the Venom supported operations against Communist guerrillas as part of Operation Firedog, the codename for Royal Air Force operations in Malaya. Venoms were lent to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for use in Malaya. No. 14 Squadron RNZAF operated the Venom and performed in a very professional manner against the Communist guerrillas.
The Venom, along with their Royal Navy counterpart, the Sea Venom, also saw service during the Suez War with the Royal Air Force, being operated by No's' 6, 8 and 249 Squadrons flying from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. The Anglo-French invasion, codenamed Operation Musketeer, had happened in response to the nationalisation of the Suez Canal by Egypt's leader, General Nasser. The air-war began on the 31st October signalling the beginning of the Suez War. The Venoms launched a number of sorties, attacking a variety of military installations on the ground. The aircraft also saw much action once more in the Middle East, supporting operations against terrorists in Aden and Oman, losing some Venoms in the process. Venoms also saw service during the Mau Mau insurgency in Kenya.
All Venoms in RAF service were withdrawn from first-line service in 1962, 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 Swiss Air Force Venoms which retired in 1983. About 20 Venoms continue to fly as of 2004, flying at various air shows. There are a number of Venoms preserved in museums in the United Kingdom and abroad, in non-flying, static display condition.
The Sea Venom saw much service during its time with the Royal Navy. In 1956, they, alongside RAF Venoms, took part in the Suez War which began on 31 October. They were part of Naval Squadrons 809 Naval Air Squadron, 892 Naval Air Squadron and 893 Naval Air Squadron based on the light fleet carrier HMS Albion and fleet carrier HMS Eagle. The Sea Venoms launched many sorties, bombing a variety of targets in Egypt in the process. In 1958, during the Cyprus Emergency, Sea Venoms of 809 NAS, flying off Albion, flew a number of sorties against the Cypriot terrorists. It also saw service during conflicts in the Middle East.
By 1959, the Sea Venom began to be replaced in Royal Navy service by the de Havilland Sea Vixen, an aircraft that also had the distinctive twin-boom tail. The Sea Venom would be withdrawn from frontline service soon afterwards.
Thirty-nine Sea Venoms saw service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), replacing the Hawker Sea Fury. The Sea Venom entered service in 1956 and, during its service with the RAN, operated off the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. It was taken out of first-line service in 1967, replaced by the American A-4 Skyhawk. The Sea Venom also saw service with the French Navy built under licence and renamed Aquilon ("Sea-Eagle"). It was withdrawn from service with the French Navy in 1963.
- NF.2
- A two-seater night-fighter variant of the Venom was produced, designated the NF.2. It was intended to replace the Vampire NF.10, an interim night-fighter originally intended for Egypt. The NF.2 first flew in 1950 and entered service, delayed after some minor problems with the aircraft, in 1953, with 90 eventually being built. The NF.2 had some structural differences, including the two crew being positioned in side by side seats, as-well as being radar-equipped.
- NF.2A
- The NF.2 was subsequently converted to the NF.2A, which received some strengthening modifications to the wing spar after problems had been found with the NF.2 and other Venoms, leading to a number of accidents.
- NF.3
- The next Venom variant was the NF.3, the last night-fighter variant of the Venom, first flying in 1953, entering service in 1955, with about 130 being built for the RAF. It included a number of modifications, including the fitting of a new engine, the de Havilland Ghost 104 turbojet, and it had a new (American) radar, which led to the NF.3's nose being slightly altered. It had a relatively brief career with the Royal Air Force being withdrawn in 1957 and replaced by the Gloster Javelin. The NF.3s were fitted with ejector seats.
- FB 4
- On 29 December 1953, the final Venom variant built for the Royal Air Force, the single-seat FB.4, took to the skies for the first time. It entered service in 1955 and 150 were eventually built for the RAF. It was powered by a single 5,150 lbf (22.9 kN) thrust de Havilland Ghost 105 turbojet engine . It also received an ejector seat and some modifications to its structure. The FB.4 is widely regarded to be the ultimate Venom variant.
- FB.50
- Export version used by Iraq and Switzerland in the 1950s.
- NF.51
Export version of the night fighter. A total of 60 were purchased by Sweden and used under the designation J 33. It served 1953-1960 at the dedicated night fighter F1 wing at Västerås.
- FB.54
Export version. Used by Venezuela and Switzerland in the 1950s.
The Sea Venom was the navalised version of the Venom NF.2 two-seat night-fighter. The necessary navalisation modifications for use on the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers included folding wings, a tailhook and strengthened undercarriage. The first prototype made its first flight in 1951, and began carrier trials that same year. A further two prototypes were built.
- FAW.20
- The first production Sea Venom took the designation FAW 20 (Fighter All-Weather), of which 50 were built, and which first flew in 1953. It was powered by a single de Havilland Ghost 103 turbojet engine and its armament was the same as the RAF version.
- FAW.21
- The next variant was the FAW.21 (167 built) which included the modifications introduced in the NF 2A and NF 3 RAF variants. Some of these modifications included the de Havilland Ghost 104 turbojet engine, clear-view canopy and new radar.
- ECM.21
- Seven FAW.21s were modified in 1958 for Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) purposes with ECM equipment fitted instead of the cannon. No. 831 Squadron RAF was the sole squadron to be equipped with it. From 1963 it was shore-based at RAF Watton and disbanded in 1966
- FAW.22
- The final Royal Navy variant was the FAW.22 and it was powered by the de Havilland Ghost 105 engine. Thirty-nine of this type were built in 1957/58. Some were later fitted out with the de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile.
- ECM.22
- Seven FAW.2s modified in 1958, description and service as the ECM.21 above.
- FAW.53
- Australian designation for the Sea Venom, 39 built.
The French company Sud-Est licence-built 121 Sea Venom FAW 20s under the name Aquilon (French poetic "North Wind") for the French Navy. Their versions were:
- Aquilon 20
- Sea Venom FAW.20 assembled from the parts provided by Havilland
- Aquilon 201
- Single prototype built in France.
- Aquilon 202
- Two-seater version with ejector seats, an American radar AN/APQ-65 and air conditioning.
- Aquilon 203
- Single-seat version with an American radar AN/APQ-94 and equipped with racks for the air-to-air missiles.
- Aquilon 204
- Two-seat training version without guns.
- Royal Air Force
- No. 5 Squadron RAF
- No. 6 Squadron RAF
- No. 8 Squadron RAF
- No. 11 Squadron RAF
- No. 14 Squadron RAF
- No. 16 Squadron RAF
- No. 23 Squadron RAF
- No. 28 Squadron RAF
- No. 32 Squadron RAF
- No. 33 Squadron RAF
- No. 45 Squadron RAF
- No. 60 Squadron RAF
- No. 73 Squadron RAF
- No. 89 Squadron RAF
- No. 94 Squadron RAF
- No. 98 Squadron RAF
- No. 118 Squadron RAF
- No. 125 Squadron RAF
- No. 141 Squadron RAF
- No. 142 Squadron RAF
- No. 145 Squadron RAF
- No. 151 Squadron RAF
- No. 208 Squadron RAF
- No. 213 Squadron RAF
- No. 219 Squadron RAF
- No. 249 Squadron RAF
- No. 253 Squadron RAF
- No. 266 Squadron RAF
- Fleet Air Arm
- 700 Naval Air Squadron
- 736 Naval Air Squadron
- 738 Naval Air Squadron
- 750 Naval Air Squadron
- 766 Naval Air Squadron
- 787 Naval Air Squadron
- 800 Naval Air Squadron
- 808 Naval Air Squadron
- 809 Naval Air Squadron
- 810 Naval Air Squadron
- 831 Naval Air Squadron
- 890 Naval Air Squadron
- 891 Naval Air Squadron
- 892 Naval Air Squadron
- 893 Naval Air Squadron
- 894 Naval Air Squadron
The Venom has been preserved in significant numbers, thanks in part to their longevity with the Swiss Air Force.
In the UK, a number of Sea Venoms are preserved, along with examples of the NF3 and Swiss built Mk50 and 54.
In Sweden, two examples of the NF51 are preserved
There are many survivors in Switzerland, and other Swiss aircraft are scattered throughout Europe.
In Australia, a number of Sea Venom Mk 53's have also survived.
Venezuela has the only complete surviving British built single seat Venom.
Although the Venom was, for a time, a popular and cheap warbird, the number of airworthy aircraft is dwindling. Currently there is just one in the UK that flies regularly, along with single examples in New Zealand, Switzerland and the USA. All are license built Swiss examples.
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.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)
- Wing area: 279 ft² (25.9 m²)
- Empty weight: 9,202 lb (4,173 kg)
- Loaded weight: 15,400 lb (7,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× de Havilland Ghost 103 turbojet, 4,850 lbf (21.6 kN)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 556 knots (640 mph, 1,030 km/h)
- Range: 934 nm (1,080 mi, 1,730 km)
- Service ceiling: 39,400 ft (12,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 9,000 ft/min (45.7 m/s)
- Wing loading: 56.17 lb/ft² (274.2 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.41
Armament
- Guns: 4× 20 mm Hispano cannon, 150 rounds per gun
- Rockets: 8× 60 lb (27 kg) rockets or
- Bombs: 2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
- Green, William. The World's Fighting Planes. London, Macdonald, 1964.
- Winchester, Jim, ed. "De Havilland Sea Vixen." Military Aircraft of the Cold War (The Aviation Factfile). Rochester, Kent, UK: The Grange plc., 2006. ISBN 1-84013-929-7.
Related development
Designation sequence
DH 106 - DH 108 - DH 110 - DH.112 - DH 114 - HS 121 - BAe 125
Related lists
See also
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