The de Havilland company developed a two-seat night fighter as a private venture in the late-1940s. It was designated the de Havilland D.H.113 NF.Mk10, & it was hoped that the RAF (who had not yet brought any jet-powered night fighters into service) would buy the aircraft. There was little interest in the aircraft from the RAF, however. Instead, the Egyptian Air Force took delivery of several batches of the aircraft. The export of weapons to Egypt was banned in 1950, but fortunately for de Havilland, the RAF took delivery of the rest of the Egyptian aircraft. The RAF's Vampires were operated No.25 Squadron of West Malling, which took delivery of 96 aircraft.

The Vampire NF.Mk10's nacelle was very similar to that of the Mosquito, so many components used in the Mosquito could be easily transferred to the Vampire, such as the crew compartment & AI Mk10 radar. The Vampire had non-ejecting seats, which made emergency escape dangerous.

After the NF.Mk10 came the T.Mk11 trainer, which had a smaller cockpit & no radar equipment to make way for dual flight controls. The T.Mk11 made its first flight in November 1950, & entered service with the RAF in 1952. By 1956 it had become the standard jet trainer of the RAF, which took delivery of 530 of the aircraft in total. Several export customers ordered the aircraft as well, bringing the total production of the T.Mk11 to 731 aircraft.

Production of a fighter-bomber development of the Vampire began in 1948, designated the FB.Mk5. It could carry eight rockets or two 227kg (500lb) bombs under its clipped wing, & was developed into the FB.Mk6 with an uprated de Havilland Goblin engine & improved performance. The RAF was not interested in the aircraft, but overseas orders were taken, notably from Switzerland as a low-cost replacement for its fleet of Messerschmitt Bf109s. Seventy five were built by de Havilland for the Swiss Air Force, & another 100 were licence built in Switzerland.

Vampire FB.Mk6

Type: Single-seat fighter-bomber

Powerplant: one 1,498kg (3,300lb) de Havilland Goblin 35 turbojet

Performance: Max. speed 883km/h (548mph); Service ceiling 13,410m (44,000ft); Range with drop tanks 2,253km (1,400 miles)

Dimensions: Wingspan 11.6m (38ft); Length 9.37m (30ft 9in); Height 2.69m (8ft 10in); Wing area 24.32m² (262ft²)

Weights: Empty 3,266kg (7,200lb); Loaded with drop tanks 5,600kg (12,290lb)

Armament: four 20mm Hispano cannon with 150 rounds; Wing pylons for either two 227kg (500lb) bombs or 60lb rockets

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