DH.112 Venom

The de Havilland DH.112 Venom was a single‑engine jet fighter‑bomber that entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1952, succeeding the Vampire as the company’s first swept‑wing design. Developed from the Vampire’s airframe, the Venom incorporated a more powerful de Havilland Ghost turbo‑jet, a laminar‑flow wing with a 20‑degree sweep and additional fuel capacity, giving a top speed of about 640 mph (1,030 km/h) and a combat radius of 400 nm. Its armament typically consisted of four 20 mm Hispano cannons and provisions for rockets or bombs, making it adaptable to both air‑to‑air and ground‑attack missions. Over 2,500 examples were built in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and several other nations, serving with the RAF, RCAF, RAAF and numerous Commonwealth air forces. The Venom saw action in the Malayan Emergency, the Suez Crisis and the Aden uprisings, proving its reliability in harsh tropical environments. Its relatively low operating cost and straightforward maintenance helped bridge the transition from piston‑propeller aircraft to more advanced transonic jets, influencing later designs such as the Hawker Hunter. The Venom’s widespread export and prolonged service—lasting into the 1970s—cemented its reputation as a versatile workhorse of early jet aviation.

de Havilland Aircraft Company

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