Jets

In the late 1940s de Havilland proposed a development of their Vampire – with thinner wings and a more powerful engine. The RAF was seeking a better ghter bomber and the new design, the DH112, entered service in 1952. The RAF called it the Venom.

The Venom proved to be a versatile design; as well as a ghter bomber it was also developed as a two-seat night ghter, then as a carrier-based interceptor. The RAF deployed it widely during the 1950s, including to Malaya where No. 14 Sqn RNZAF

ew Venoms in action against the communist guerrillas.

The type was exported to a number of air forces, including the

Swiss Air Force where it remained in service until 1983. The Venom at Wings Over Wairarapa was built in Switzerland (under licence) in 1956 and it ies in from Whanganui for its display. The ghter’s paint scheme and identity is of the 14 Sqn aircraft own in Malaya by the late Trevor Bland, who was one of the original organisers of the New Zealand War Birds. Although some 1600 Venoms were built, we believe that John Lu ’s Venom is the only airworthy and ying DH Venom left in the world.

Span: 12.7m Length: 9.7m Speed: 1030km/h

In the same era as the RAF Venom, the USAF sought a powerful, tricycle undercarriage initial trainer to prepare its young pilots for the jet age. The T-28 Trojan was designed in 1949 to replace the T-6 Texan (Harvard) in USAF and USN service.

Over 1900 were built during the 1950s and it was supplied to a large number of allied air forces. During the 1960s the T-28 was also successfully employed as a counterinsurgency aircraft in a number of limited wars. It remained in service in the USN until 1984.

Wings Over Wairarapa are pleased that all three of the powerful Trojans are to fly at our Air Festival this year. Two of the Trojans are based in New Plymouth, with the third coming from Christchurch.

Span: Span: 12.22m Length: Length: 10.06m Speed: Speed: 552km/h