DH Vampire

[Keith Mitchell]

Made some good progress on this longstanding project over the winter. Model now structurally complete and just finished the nose-cone and doing final filling/sanding prior to glass-clothing (Maestro Johnson's going to do that for me as he reckons I'm s--te at it!!).

[Rob Crawford]

Beautiful work so far Keith,always wanted to build a vampire.

any updates?,i have many distractions also :

[Keith Mitchell]

The mercurial Phil Noel of Pinnacle Aviation is presently putting the finishing touches to the project. Luv' it...

[Keith Mitchell]

Picked the finished model up from Phil's last Sat.. To say I'm well-pleased is an understatement...

[David Baker]

Keith
That is just “stunning!”
I love the early jets

Yours sir is a beauty!

Dave B

[Aaron norman]

Stunning model well done

[Keith Mitchell]

Nearly done. Turbine, radio & retracts in and working; main leg doors to fit.
Finally, canopy fitting when I receive my pilots from Wilson Li (Tailored Pilots) in the New Year...

[Keith Mitchell]

Well, it's finished. Final adornments, Wilson Li's wonderful 1950's RAF style pilots.

Ran the Merlin 160 today and it fired-up first time. Now for some decent weather...

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Keith, that’s Beautifull,

[Peter Smedley]

Stunning achievement. Would you post the flight video on YouTube please.

[Keith Mitchell]

Sadly, a mishap with my beautiful Vampire earlier in the summer.

First take-off from our grass strip it lifted off before it had flying speed, flicked one way, then the other and you know the rest.

Cause: Noseleg too long.
Solution: Peter's shortened the leg and I've lifted the mounting points in the nose.

So 6 months later here's a pictorial history of the repair...

(Sorry -pic's not all in order, not sure why..?)

[Dougie Sheppard]

Looking good Keith, I'm impressed.

Keep up the good work.

Dougie.

[Keith Mitchell]

Thanks, Dougie.
Keith

[Cary Bailey]

Excellent work Doc!
Cary

[stuart knowles 1611]

Sir Isaac is a particularly cruel and ruthless Deity that we disciples follow.

Congratulations on Build 1, it looks amazing and I hope that now that the god have had their sacrifice, all future flights are trouble free.

Nil Bastardum Carborundum!

[Keith Mitchell]

Repairs and reinstallation completed.
The 'sit' with the shortened nose-leg & mountings moved upwards in the nose, looks much better now.
Decided to check with DJ as to the CG position on his Sterner Vampire after he'd had a near thing and added nose-weight subsequently.
My CG turned-out to be 3/4" rearwards of his which obviously didn't help with the prang... The addition of 1lb lead up front has corrected this.
As to test-flights - your guess is as good as mine!

[David Tyler]

Looks like a lovely plane.

[Keith Mitchell]

Thankyou.

[Cary Bailey]

Superb Doc! Another masterpiece.
Cary

[Tony Collins 1073]

Hi Keith. Very well done. They say persistency pays. Wish I still had your get-up-and go.
Keep well.
Tony