UK Aviation News

Aviation News >> Duxford's Vampire T.11 WZ590 rolls out The results of four years' work were evident at Duxford on Tuesday 13 March when de Havilland Vampire T.11 WZ590 was formally rolled out at the end of a painstaking conservation effort. Providing a distinctive contrast to an otherwise dull and gloomy day, WZ590 looked resplendent in a fresh coat of dayglo. Lindsay Peacock was there for GAR.

Originally delivered to the RAF in November 1953, this particular Vampire would have been a common sight in the skies around nearby Cambridge between November 1959 and March 1962, when it served with No.5 Flying Training School at RAF Oakington. Subsequently transferred to No.8 Flying Training School at RAF Swinderby and then acquired by Hawker Siddeley for possible resale, it joined the Imperial War Museum (IWM) collection almost 40 years ago, in 1973.

Completion of the recent renovation project has seen it revert to those markings carried while operating from Oakington in the early 1960s. Stephen Woolford, IWM Head of Interpretation and Collections at Duxford, acknowledged the meticulous work undertaken by the individuals involved in the restoration of this aircraft, which is destined for static display.

Management of the project was entrusted to team leader Andy Robinson, who was quick to share the credit with his colleague Andy Marriott and the host of volunteers that worked on the Vampire during the past few years. Several of them were present for the roll-out, including Rohan Nelson, who spent three months on the project at Duxford in 2011 while taking a sabbatical from his work in Australia. Not content with that contribution, he flew back to the UK from Canberra specifically to be present for the roll-out.

GAR extends its thanks to Andy Robinson and Esther Blaine for assistance at Duxford.

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