@ Salinas, CA
September 2018
Jerry Conley pilots this pristine de Havilland Vampire past show center during the 2018 California International Airshow Salinas. This British jet fighter had the distinction of being the second jet fighter, following after the Gloster Meteor, to be operated by the RAF and the first to be powered by a single jet engine. Removal of the radar from the night fighter version and fitting of dual controls resulted in a jet trainer model of the aircraft, the DH.115 Vampire. Designated T.55, this was an export version provided to the Indian Air Force (though wearing Swiss AF livery) that operated a fleet of 124 aircraft from 1953 to 1982.