14 DAY TRIAL // Holidays are coming! This might be the perfect Christmas present for the aviation aficionados that have enough dime to spend on such beauties. Gizmag reports that H&H Auctions has recently announced that it will offer eight jet-powered De Havilland Venoms and Vampires in a rare sale by tender. People, these are not toys, they're not RC controlled and they shouldn't be placed under the Christmas tree, next to the milk and cookies for Santa.
Among the offers, there is a Vampire fighter, two Vampire trainers and five Venom fighters/bombers in perfect operating condition. The items are available for purchase individually or as a collection along with enough spare parts and auxiliary equipment that are said to have filled 40-foot containers. I guess there are a few guys from Dubai willing to buy one of these babies.
Gizmag says: "The Bournemouth based historic aircrafts were acquired from the Swiss Air Force by aircraft and car enthusiast Don Wood and have performed extensively at air shows throughout Europe under the title "Source Classic Jet Flight"."
Just to get an idea about the importance of the trade, you should know that the De Havilland DH.100 Vampire was commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Not to mention that over 4000 were built and served with RAF squadrons until 1955.
Apart from that, the other one, the Venom, was developed post WWII to replace the Vampire and first entered service in 1952 as the FB 1. Both planes replaced the piston-engined Spitfire and Hurricane. And their sky adventure is not to end too soon, as far as you can see.
Don Wood said for Gizmag: "These iconic aeroplanes deserve to fly again and their sale represents a unique opportunity to individual pilots and collectors the world over." Just imagine an old Brit Sir in one of these babies, so James Bond like. Take it to the sky, Captain!
