What was "Spider crab" - the top secret WW2 Jet fighter?

A talk about the development of de Havilland's first jet the Vampire.
The de Havillland Aircraft Museum has a preserved example of the DH100 Vampire FB.6.
The first Vampire flew in 1943, at the height of the second world war. It was powered by the de Havilland Goblin Jet engine, and was designed to be an interceptor against the threat of enemy high-speed jet bombers, since the Axis powers were highly advanced in Jet Aircraft design.
It was developed in de Havilland's factory in Hatfield as a top secret project, named "Spider Crab",

[@josephcooksley3219]

Lol yes i worked in Switzerland 1970/71 several times saw them flying out under ground airfields on end of lakes lol really cool planes i was up close to one 1958 sitting on canopy rail ...

[@californiadreamin8423]

A Captain I flew with on the Viscount , told me how his Squadron had flown out to Northern Germany for an exercise with either the Danish or Swedish Army. They waited a week for the weather to improve and spent the time fraternising/getting hammered in the bar with the “opposition”. The weather improved at the end of the week and before heading home they did a fly past of where their drinking friends were camped. They had filled the space above the flaps with toilet rolls, and when they performed their low fly past, they “bombed” the camp by lowering the flaps and releasing the toilet rolls which filled the sky with white streamers !!!

[@anthonyjackson280]

It has always struck me how similar in concept the Vampire is to de Havilland's first successful fighter - the Airco DH2. Both with a low power rear engine , short fuselage and boom mounted empennage.

[@georgeolson3996]

The Vampire was in RAAF service in West Australia in the late 1970s. They were the only RAAF fighter in WA. Cracks were identified in the Plywood main spar and ALL were grounded leaning approximately 1/3 of Australia unprotected. Rigby made a great political cartoon about this state of affairs.😅

[@06colkurtz]

Well done. Great plane well presented. Thanks

[@lib556]

I love these old classic jets: Vampire, Me 262...

[@billevans7936]

❤nifty ❤

[@sierrawhiskey5155]

I love your sectioned Goblin jet exhibit. Hopefully you might have an early Axial-flow engine for comparison?

[@deHavMuseum]

Alongside the Halford Collection of piston engines, the Museum has copies of earlier Axial-flow engines - the "Gyron" and "Gyron Junior". Although they are complete samples, not "cut away".

[@valentinmarinescu6445]

Focke Wulf had a similar design but I think it didn't get past the drawing board.

[@gerryellis3847]

The Vampire trainer was sold to Ireland. Ireland's first Jet

[@stevekazenwadel5423]

The Rhodesian probably used theirs much longer than anyone else, due to necessity

[@alanrogers7090]

German Doctor Ohain read about Frank Whittle's idea of a jet engine in the popular press of the day, well before the War. The British were dismissive of the potential, and held off any development until it was too late. What if, indeed. Gloster Meteor fighters over Berlin? De Havilland Vampire's over Paris?

[@SoloRenegade]

wouldn't have changed the outcome any more than the Me262 did.

[@marttimattila9561]

It was also Finlands first jet plane but that you didint care to mention.

[@GSimpsonOAM]

It was many countries first jet.