For the 2023 season, a classic Vampire aircraft temporarily received Finnish Air Force markings, to celebrate 70 years of military jet operations.
Text and photos: Emiel Sloot
This particular aircraft, a De Havilland Vampire T. Mk 55 serialled LN-DHZ, is owned and operated by the Flyvåpnets Historiske Skvadron, the Historical Squadron of the Norwegian Air Force. Although the name suggests otherwise, it is a private, non-profit organization focused on the restoration and flying of historic aircraft. They also possess a single-seat Vampire FB. Mk 52, alongside a Canadair CT-133 Silver Star and a SB Lim-2 (Polish-built MiG-15UTI).
Vampire LN-DHZ was licence built in Switzerland by F+W in Emmen. From 1959, many Swiss Air Force trainee pilots and instructors logged hours on this aircraft while in service with the Pilotenschule as U-1230, until it was retired in 1990 and replaced by the BAe Hawk T. Mk 66. Next year, U-1230 was sold by auction to the Source Classic Jet Flight based at Bournemouth, UK. In 2015, the Flyvåpnets Historiske Skvadron acquired the aircraft and applied markings of the Norwegian 336 Skvadron, including the code ‘PX-M’. Early 2023, it received Finnish Air Force colours, serialled ‘VT-1’.
A brief history on the type in Finnish service. With three single-seat Vampire FB.Mk 52 fighters landing in Pori on 22 January 1953, Finland entered the jet age. In total, the Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) would receive six of this particular version (serialled VA-1 to VA-6), as well as nine two-seat Vampire T.Mk 55s (VT-1 to VT-6). The latter were the first Finnish aircraft equipped with ejection seats.
On 15 July 1965, the last Vampire flight in Finnish service took place, when Col. Aimo Huhtala undertook the final mission from Tikkakoski.
A handful survive to date. Two (VA-2 and VT-9) are on display in the Finnish Aviation Museum in Helsinki-Vantaa while two more are located at the Finnish Air Force Museum in Tikkakoski (VT-8 on display and VA-6 in storage). VA-3’s remains can still be found at the museum’s storage at Lahti, in a poor and incomplete state.
Following the type’s withdrawal from service, it would take 58 years for a Finn taking controls of a Vampire over his country. During the 2023 season, LN-DHZ is, amongst others, flown by Historical Squadron pilot Jyri Mattila. For the Turku Airshow on 17 and 18 June 2023, he joined the air display with this aircraft. Mattila, who served as a test pilot for the Finnish Air Force, is the chairman of the Turku Flying Club. He also is an experienced aerobatic pilot.
Since none of the Ilmavoimat’s surviving Vampires are airworthy, the appearance of LN-DHZ in a Finnish outfit offered a truly unique sight. ■