This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --===============0369026217== Content-type: multipart/related; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0060_01C72505.04462AC0"; type="multipart/alternative" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0060_01C72505.04462AC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Aerial launcher with 8 hours since total rebuild. 40,000 feet, 500+ mph, 1 to 2 tons payload. $US 160,000 to the end of an airstrip near you. Maybe. Modest finders fee applies :-) ___________ I mentioned this to someone who you can probably guess the identity of a few days ago realising that it was exceedingly unlikely he'd be interested. No response, so now you all have the opportunity. Should operate very nicely off the strip on Johnston Island :-) While this is an exceedingly old Jet aircraft and has very low thrust by modern standards and would considered a museum piece in most cases, the fact that it has a genuine 8 hours on the clock since an absolute rebuild by the NZ Air Force (long ago), and has been in storage since then just may make it a viable option for someone. Having two spare engines with half life left on each can't hurt. (And you thought a Goblin Ace was a vacuum cleaner !!!) Reserve price appears to be $NZ175,000. Cost to get airworthy has been quoted at $NZ40,000. Price to ship to US is about $6000. All up $NZ221,000 = $US150 so say $US160k. Life being what it is, something a bit more than this. A realistic option? Competitive with alternatives? A practical launcher? I don't really know. Quite possibly not. But ... Nominal ceiling is 40,000 feet which, with the payload capacity are the main capabilities it offers. Net difference dry to max takeoff is 2.3 tons which covers pilot, fuel and payload. Top speed of about 530 mph is not a major factor as altitude gain through the lower atmosphere is the main thing such a launcher offers a small orbital-wannabee rocket. At 40,000 feet air density is down to about 15% of sea level which can make immense differences to aerodynamic losses. Ground clearance is very low. There would be the possibility to mount a payload rear-high. Operating as an experimental aircraft out of say Johnston that may even be viable. I wonder if "glider" launch from say 40,000 feet makes sense - either of a raw craft or via a carrier shell. There are many Vampire pictures on the net, but here are two good samplesthat show you why a high-rear payload mount or a glider tow may be the best solutions and why such may almost be viable. http://public.fotki.com/RussellMc/interesting/ Russell ----- Original Message ----- xxx I've no real idea whether this is as useful to you as I hope it might be (and strongly suspect it wont be), but it's better to bring it to your attention than find out later that you would have been interested. It's an "aerial launch platform". Its a very old but *exceptionally* good condition Vampire Jet with a good range of spares. I don't know if such a craft has any chance of featuring in your plans. But ... It would carry 1+ tons to 40,000 feet (2300 kg 'takeoff-dry' weight) The top speed of 530 mph asl may be "useful" but is not a major issue. It won't climb vertically . Rate of climb is listed as 4000+ feet/minute so time to service ceiling is useful. I have no idea of whether the idea of a launch aircraft is of interest to you or of how little money such a craft would need to cost before it became worthwhile. (If reserve is anywhere near start price an 'in the air in the US' cost of under $US200k should be achievable). I'm also not sure how practical a museum piece such as described below would be. *BUT* it must be the only such aircraft in the world with 8 hours on it since a very full rebuild. Given the engines' lifetimes of about 700 hours and the two spare engines it should have ample time on it for launch program purposes. A, possibly the, significant issue is the available clearance on the ground - which is what caused WhiteKnight to be such an 'interesting' shape. In your application a pick-a-back mounting may be possible. It may be that such an arrangement was entirely feasible - and it may be that regulatory issues would make this a non starter. It may be that introducing as an experimental single run craft may allow suitable liberties to be taken. Payload accommodation is liable to be a major factor for any small aircraft but, if any craft was liable to be suitable, the Vampire's shape and general format arguably makes it more liable than anything else available to be suited to a high mounted payload behind the cockpit. Auction listing http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=80622781 I imagine the chance of you being interested is "very very low" but, if you did buy it, my desired finders fee is a budget trip for two to see it used 'in anger' on some future occasion. [[Used to travelling cattle class and roughing it, sleeps on hangar floors, brings own tent and sleeping bag, will do electronic consulting for food, ... :-) ]]. More below regards Russell McMahon Summary: For auction: Probably the very best condition Vampire Jet in the world with 8 genuine flying hours since absolute rebuild. Two spare engines with 50% time left on each. All documentation. Service ceiling nominal 40,000 feet Top speed 530 mph at sea level. Range 1000+ miles (Max takeoff - dry) weight ~= 2300 kg [eg 2 x 500 lb bombs + fuel + ...] If the starting price is anywhere near the reserve then my guesstimated cost to airworthy on a runway somewhere in the US $US150,000 - $200,000. It could be that they want far more than that. _____________ Starting price is $NZ150,000. Seller will discuss price - I have not contacted him yet but will do so for interest regardless of your interest. - Vampire Jet aircraft. - Full documentation and proof available of the following claims - Close to flight worthy and what is required to make it so is a modest proportion of the asking price. - Genuine 8 hours since an absolute rebuild by NZ Air Force. - Has been in storage ever since. - Two spare Mk 35 Goblin Ace engines with half life left on each (350 hours left AFAIK) - Was used by NZ Air Force aerobatic team. - History fully known. It's listed on this site http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/vampire.html as > NZ5732 DH100 FB.52 (c/n V0520) held in store by J.Chambers at North Shore. And here http://www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz5721.shtml NZ5732 FB.52 V0520 New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitata". BOC 01 May 1952. To No.14 Squadron. To No.75 Squadron 19 September 1952. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. On display at Asplins Garage, Hamilton from June 1963. To J. Chambers, Auckland in 1972. Stored with B. Billing at Torbay, Auckland. ______________________________ >From the auction: DH100 VAMPIRE FB52 1950 No bids | Closes: Thu, 21 Dec Starting bid: $ Autobid This original single seat aircraft has a TT of 1219 hrs All records and manuals are available Two DH Goblin engines with half lives remaining are included in the large quantity of airframe and engine spares available The aircraft is currently stored with a considerable amount of the work already carried out for flight reactivation. * This is an Ex RNZAF aircraft from the original purchase of Vampires in 1950 It has an extremely interesting service life It is an original from the Aerobatics Display team "The Jet O Batics" *The aircraft is corrosionless and had only done 8 hours from an absolute tyres up total rebuild by RNZAF before it went into storage (all records of the rebuild are available) * Out side of museums there would only be 3 genuine ex RNZAF Vampire Jets that could be made flyable ___________________________________ Ask the seller a question Is this for real? posted by: mrdig (18 ) 9:00 pm, Thu 7 Dec It most certainly is. 10:41 pm, Thu 7 Dec hi I am trying to contact a Bill Billings, he has a Vampire as well. Do you have his number please. cheers shorty posted by: chevy29 (41 ) 6:32 pm, Fri 8 Dec No I don't know him - But I am selling on behalf of Ross Jowitt, You could phone him on 0274 920048 or at his home 09 2363761 Good luck, He may know him. 7:02 pm, Fri 8 Dec Any chance of some more recent pictures? posted by: mvd71 (101 ) 9:09 pm, Tue 12 Dec Sorry there is none, as the plane is in storage and difficult to photograph, However, it can be viewed at Ardmore Aerodrome by arrangement. 10:06 pm, Tue 12 Dec So this is not the ex-Swiss aircraft imported by the late Sir Kenneth Hayr? posted by: pixie_chiq (83 ) 1:51 pm, Thu 14 Dec No it definitely is not!!! 3:29 pm, Thu 14 Dec half life ?, whats the top air speed and thrust figures ? posted by: anodyne1 (11 ) 5:57 pm, Thu 14 Dec Half Life would be 350 hrs remaining Top airspeed is approx 500mph Thrust figures 3500lbs The engines are mark 35 goblins 8:06 pm, Fri 15 Dec hi would you know how many of these still exsist?? hope someone gives it a good home, good luck and merry xmas posted by: darg.british (260 ) 2:23 am, Fri 15 Dec This is the only one genuine ex RNZAF that will ever fly (see edited text for more detail) 8:09 pm, Fri 15 Dec Alas I'm not a buyer. :-(. However, I know of someone in the US who just may be interested. Just to allow introduction - In very very approximate terms can you indicate the probable cost to get to airworthy stage - in whatever units (eg $ or hours labour or ...). Any idea of cost to ship this to the US? I imagine it would be well below it's actual value. / Can you give a rough idea of how far away we are from reserve eg is it within say 33% (ie around 200k or is this price just a starter? posted by: rusl (126 ) 4:53 am, Fri 15 Dec 2 local quotes are around $40,000 nz$ Ship to USA $6000 NZ$ (Would have to be shipped in an open top container Would be interested in quoting a buy now (Phone Ross on 09 236371 evenings.) see edited text for more details 8:12 pm, Fri 15 Dec VAMPIRE PHOTOS Two attached photos are from this site. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=De%20Havilland%20DH-100%20Vampire&distinct_entry=true ------=_NextPart_000_0060_01C72505.04462AC0 Content-Type: image/gif; name="AUCTION_icon.gif" Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.trademe.co.nz/images/AUCTION_icon.gif R0lGODlhEgAUALMAAEAmDVs8Hm9MKW1hVZJlOYh6bQD/AK+BVMaccqGemeG5ksrIxdrZ2Onq6/Dy 9Pf4+CH5BAkAAAYALAAAAAASABQAAAikAA0IHGhgQYEEDwgqJLggwIECAxYubBigAAICCSQOTCAA AQIBAggIaCAxwYAAChRcDABywcICIQUcQHBAJEsGChMAsEggAIGfAgrgVAhT5AGQAgIMILmQQUyQ AAYQODDA5UKONgs4kHqUKdEAUQXqTBpR4gKrAgsA+JlRo8IBMgu4VdgALsa5RNniHej0IVq8CQIg ELpXIFe5hZ0mLSywQYECAQEAOw== ------=_NextPart_000_0060_01C72505.04462AC0 Content-Type: image/gif; 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