Ref.: SPEC-72339
DH.100 Vampire Mk. I Development of a jet fighter later to be named the Vampire began in 1941 and related closely with the development of the H-1 jet engine, for which the engine section of de Havilland company was responsible. The engine was later to be known under its new name Goblin and its development turned out to be very successful. The Vampire was therefore ordered under Air Ministry specification E.6/41 calling for an experimental machine able to be converted to a fighter plane. The design of the plane was fully adjusted to the new engine, which resulted in overall tiny dimensions of the plane, very low undercarriage and the tail planes being carried by two slim tail booms. Unlike the later marks of the aircraft, the plane’s wing featured rounded tips. The first prototype, unofficially named the Spider Crab, flew for the first time on September 20, 1943 with G. de Havilland Jr at the controls. The trials were a success and an order for first 120 planes was placed in May 1944 and was continuously increased. The production planes were also licence-built by English Electric because de Havilland was much too busy producing the Mosquito. The original name Spider Crab, however, was rejected by the RAF and changed to the Vampire Mk.I.