Vampire Rips up runway at Halfpenny Green

Vampire WZ507 rips up RWY10 at EGBO/Halfpenny Green. Quite spectacular, but looks like a lot of damage. Afterwards, the vampire landed on another (undamaged) runway. Airfield staff were seen cleaning up debris from the runway for some time.
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"The Vampire Strikes Back"
If you thought that was bad check out the same aircraft taking off from grass!

[paladin]

Extremely fortunate that the tailplane and elevator weren't damaged.

[domschra]

Looks like Hammond wasn't joking when he said the 747s engine could rip up a runway after 20 seconds

[leokimvideo]

Obviously the Romans didn't build that runway

[ddeapb]

This is not the first time a Vampire has done that. In 1953 (or perhaps 52) a Vampire was entered in the King's Cup which was being flown at Woolsington, now Newcastle Airport NCL / EGNT. Then, as now, the King's Cup is a handicapped race so the fastest planes take off last. The Vampire needed a good long runway (compared with the Messengers and Moths it was racing against) and so it was sent off down to the far end of the newly laid hard runway - made from compacted coal waste, presumably held together with asphalt of some sort.

The Vampire sat waiting for the race marshall to wave him off, and when the time came, opened the throttle and directed the hot jet exhaust onto the nicely pre-warmed runway. Apparently he blew most of the runway 25 threshold into the next field.

[dr.z]

Heading out after your last day at work.

[jameshardie]

As of 01/03/2023, the runway 28/10 is now back in service

[richardmorris]

My father, Sqn Ldr John Morris was a test pilot for the Vampire when they were developing it. Not his favourite plane, which was the Hawker Hunter, despite flying Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mustangs, F86 Sabre etc.

[neil]

Reminds me - I've got to scrape some old wallpaper of the wall of my spare room ready for re-decorating.

[rcbif]

That Vampire sure sits low in the rear. That plus a runway in need of repair was the perfect combination.

[frogfoot_media]

One of the best videos I have seen in a while! Great capture.

[glennog]

I landed there today, that runway is still unserviceable

[Dalesmanable]

I worked with Vampires and, at different times, their engines mounted on trolleys for snow & ice clearance. We were all very much aware of the potential for them to damage airfield surfaces, although we were more concerned over melting tarmac rather than ripping it up like this. We operated from many older airfields, both RAF and civilian, and never did any lasting damage. Judging by the images at the end of the TV broadcasts, the runway was past its sell-by date and I would have had serious concerns. No doubt the CAA will have something to say and North Weald will be looking very carefully at their surfaces.

[Ugh-Fudge_Bwana]

How much did they spend on that runway? A halfpenny?

[Wonkabar]

Looks like that runway is 50% tarmac, and 50% used engine oil mixed with sad pretending to be tarmac

[flybobbie]

That runway was supposed to be used for parking aircraft that day, as it was used the day before. But the previous day was nicer weather so was used for parking. But on this day the weather was not so good so few visitors. So this runway was available and into wind. So the pilot was happy with the surface so took off, just about. Can't see this runway ever being resurfaced, cost to much. Vampires blasting the surface is well known.
These runway were skim tarmaced some 20 years ago, just worn out now from frost.
The main runway was resurfaced quality material after Harrier jets ripped it apart.

[stephedc]

Thats what happens when you have your drive tarmac'd by a couple of blokes with a pickup truck.

[gummel]

Pretty lucky that the tailplane stayed intact

[dumptrump]

"Excuse me, sir. Do you know why I pulled you over?"

[aaronlee]

Some bits came away when he initially entered the runway to backtrack, if I'd seen that from the tower I'd told him to abort, lucky it didn't suck any of that up! Jets would be grounded in the UK for all of eternity!

[PanzerFalcon]

This is why runways are built with concrete