DeHavilland Venom

One of the most interesting places to be around in the 1980's was Middlebury State Airport, just outside of Middlebury, Vermont. From B-25 (Mitchell) bombers to Dehavilland Venom's, it was abuzz with very cool stuff. T-28's, T-34's, TBM's, Twin Beech's, DC-3's, Beavers, Fouga Magisters were all on the short list of aircraft seen regularly. An exciting and fun time, all from a little airport in Vermont. Runway is 2500' paved with a 1000' grass overun on the north end, not typically plowed during winter. 500' ASL. Only one man ever flew the Venom's back into Middlebury, and I believe he can count the times he did on one hand, maybe two hands. They were all shipped in from overseas, assembled, painted, and flown out.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• DeHavilland
• Venom
• Middlebury
• Airport
• State

[pebinc]

The smoke is from the start cartridge. In simple terms it's a huge brass shotgun shell, which is fired to spin the starter. If I remember there are two shells chambered, and then you reload with new cartridges.

[pebinc]

xfire, two different pilots left Middlebury in the Venom, but Dean was the only one to bring them back in, if I recall correctly.  There was little margin for error, but it was accomplished numerous times. No such thing as a balanced runway.

[pebinc]

Jonesy97 - The speed brakes are a separate panel that is hinged so that it deploys both above and beneath the wing. The flaps are conventional split type but also include brackets inside to hold a few spare start cartridges!

[poodleslayer]

So can black powder starter cartridges be purchased, or do the owners of jet warbirds that require them have to "load their own?"

[pebinc]

@poodleslayer - The purchasers of the Venom's would always get a supply of start cartridges, with the typical option to purchase more. I am not aware of anyone running out of them, but my assumption would be eventually they will be "reloaded".

[pebinc]

Start Cartridge spins the starter, which if I remember right has lots of mass, which spins the turbine. Kurt maybe able to confirm this.

[Gruntol5]

Makes me very emotional to see a Venom powered by a very early DH Ghost engine (probably built around 1950), still capable of taking off under difficult conditions and thousand of miles from home. Kudos to all concerned - original designers (no doubt long gone), engineers, maintenance chaps and, definitely to brave and skilled pilots of today.

[credera]

Crazy What about ASD!!!



[TheHorizonhobby]

I'm from switzerland and I'm only 17 years old. My gran father always tell me about this plane. Every time he listen to this, he almost cry for the joy. I think that you have good care for our old planes. Thanks and congratulation ;)

[MasterJericho85]

4:46 It's Adam West's Batmobile lol

[shitNameAlert]

now this is so cool - just no words for it - I'd love to have a licence to fly one of those!

[FASTBOOBS]

1:58  WONDERFULL RAM TRUST WHISTLE!!

[FASTBOOBS]

@pebinc HI, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT DO YOU MEAN "start cartridge"

[FASTBOOBS]

@pebinc CAN YOU SEND ME A LINK WHERE I CAN FIND AN IMAGE OF THIS KIND OF STARTING SYSTEM? tHANKS

[FASTBOOBS]

0:56 why this black smoke? from where it comes from?