1. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................

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2. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... ii
3. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1
4. de HAVILLAND DH115 VAMPIRE ................................................................. 1
4.1. WING STRUCTURES.................................................................................... 1
4.2. TAILPLANE STRUCTURES ....................................................................... 2
5. de Havilland DHA-3 Drover MK.1 .................................................................... 2
5.1. WING STRUCTURES ................................................................................... 2
5.2. TAILPLANE STRUCTURES........................................................................ 3
6. COMPARISON ................................................................................................... 3
6.1. WING STRUCTURES ................................................................................... 3
6.2. TAILPLANE STRUCTURES........................................................................ 4
7. APPENDIX
7.1. Appendix 1: Fig 1. DH115 Vampire Port Wing (From trailing edge) ........... 5
Appendix 2: Fig 2. DH115 Vampire Port Wing (From leading edge) .......... 5
7.2. Appendix 3: Fig 3. DH115 Vampire Undercarriage (Port wing) ................... 6
7.3. Appendix 4: Fig 4. DHA-3 Drover Starboard Wing (From trailing edge) ..... 7
Appendix 5: Fig 5. DHA-3 Drover Port Wing (From leading edge) ............ 7
7.4. Appendix 6: Fig 6. DH115 Vampire Tailplane .............................................. 8
Appendix 7: Fig 7. DHA-3 Drover Tailplane ............................................... 8
7.5. Appendix 8: Fig 8. DH115 Vampire Tailplane (Starboard) ........................... 9
Appendix 9: Fig 9. DHA-3 Drover Tailplane (Side view) ............................ 9
7.6. Appendix 10: Fig 10. DH115 Vampire Tailplane...........................................10
Appendix 11: Fig 11. DHA-3 Drover Tailplane............................................10
7.7. Appendix 12: Photograph DH115 Vampire Wing .........................................11
7.8. Appendix 13: Photograph DH115 Vampire Undercarriage (Starboard wing)12
7.9. Appendix 14: Photograph DHA-3 Drover Starboard wing.............................13
Appendix 15: Photograph DHA-3 Drover Port Wing....................................13

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1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to the staff at Bankstown Airport Aviation Museum and Library for the
assistance and help they have provided in gathering information and data for this
assignment. Also thank you to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(AIAA) and its coordinators for giving up their time to assist the AERO1560 students
with this assignment.

2. REFERENCES

 Robert Jones
– Bankstown Airport Aviation Museum
 Angus Lesley
– American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
 Allan Toal
– American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

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3. INTRODUCTION

Wing structures and tailplane structures are the most important aspects of an aircraft
design as it provides the plane with lift and directional control. The wing and tailplane
contain the control surfaces of the aircraft without which the aircraft will not be able to
control its movement while in flight.

This report will analyse the wing and tailplane structures of the de Havilland DH 115
Vampire and the de Havilland DHA-3 Drover MK.1. Both of these planes were
Australian built by the de Havilland company now known as Boeing – Hawker de
Havilland.

4. de HAVILLAND DH 115 VAMPIRE

The de Havilland DH115 Vampire was developed in 1942. It was designed as a

turbojet fighter/bomber as a replacement for the Spitfire and other piston / propeller
powered aircraft. The Vampire was to be strong but at the same time lightweight. To
achieve this the main fuselage of the plane was made up of a composite layer of
balsawood placed between two layers moulded plywood. This was unusual as most
planes of the day were being made of metal. However, the wings, tailplane and booms
of the Vampire are of all-metal construction.

4.1 WING STRUCTURES

Production process: The Vampire, like the DH98 Mosquito was built in two halves,
which were then joined together. The wings however were constructed using
traditional methods. The single main spar is set up in a jig. The ribs are then set in
place, after which this skin of the wing is riveted on. Stringers are used to keep the skin
in place until the final layer is applied.

Size/Structure/Layout: The Vampire has a wingspan of 11.58 meters. The upswept,

tapered wings were built around a single main spar. This aircraft has mid mounted,
cantilevered wings (i.e. wing is only supported at the point where it meets the fuselage)
[Appendix 1, Appendix 2]. The engines of the Vampire are placed within the fuselage
rather than on the wings. This means that no extra strength was needed in the wings to
support the weight of the engines, making the cantilevered wing design effective and
efficient.

One of the more unique aspects of the Vampire wing was that the engine air intake was
from wing root inlets. [Appendix 2, Appendix 12]

Materials/Surface Finishes: The wings of the Vampire are covered with flush riveted
Alclad skin. The Alclad skin is a heat-treated aluminum, copper, manganese, and
magnesium alloy. The wing surface is finished with a coat of pure aluminum, as
aluminum is resistant to corrosion.

Joining Details/Inspection/Maintenance: The entire Vampire wing is made up of

removable panels. These removable panels are joined using screws and counter sunk
rivets. The use of counter sunk rivets and removable panels make maintenance and
inspection of the wings easy. Damaged or worn out panels can easily be removed and
refitted.

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4.2 TAILPLANE STRUCTURES.

Layout/Size: The DH115 Vampire has a H-tail, which is 3.8 meters wide and has a
height of 1.20 meters. The H-tail is connected to the wings of the Vampire by twin
metallic booms [Appendix 6]. Tall triangular vertical tail surfaces were fitted on the
first Vampire aircraft. However, after testing these were replaced with more rounded
tailplane units [Appendix 8]. The horizontal tail surface was initially mounted halfway
up between the vertical fins. This was done in order to avoid the effects of
compressibility. However, in later models they were lowered.

Materials/Joining details/Inspection/Maintenance: The Vampire tailplane is

composed to the same materials as the wings i.e. flush riveted Alclad skin coated
aluminum. Just like the wings, the tailplane is made up of removable panels joined
using screws and counter sunk rivets. The use of removable panels and counter sunk
rivets increases the ease of maintenance and inspection.

5. de Havilland DHA-3 Drover MK.1

The Drover was designed and built in the late 1940's by de Havilland at Bankstown,
NSW. Only 20 of this type were built. The Drover is best known for its role in the
Royal Flying Doctors Service in the 1960s.

The structural design of the de Havilland Drover was based on the de Havilland Dove.
The aircraft was built with the purpose of being lightweight and efficient.

5.1 WING STRUCTURES

Production process: The wing of the Drover is identical to the wing of the Dove in its
size, structure and materials. It was produced using a conventional form of stressed
skin metal construction.

Size/Structure: The Drover has a wingspan of 17.4 meters. It has a single main spar
and three false spars. Like the DH115 Vampire the DHA-3 Drover also has
cantilevered wings. However, unlike the Vampire, the engines are mounted on the
wings of the Drover, requiring the wing to have additional support [Appendix 4,
Appendix 5]. All the bending loads on the wing are carried in the single main spar. The
root rib and a light rear spar carry drag loads on the skin through to the fuselage,
making the wing stronger and able to support the weight of the engines. The engines
are mounted onto the wings using conventional welded steel bearers. Rubber
mountings are also used for the engines to reduce vibrations.

Materials: High strength aluminum alloys such as DTD546 and DTD 364 were used
to facilitate a lighter and more efficient structure. The stringers and skin of the wing
are composed of sheets or DTD546 (26ST). The main spar flanges are composed of
DTD 364(75ST). All control surfaces such as the ailerons are metal structures with
fabric covering. The flaps on the other hand are composed of composite wood/metal
constructions covered in ply.

Joining Details/Inspection/Maintenance: Unlike the Vampire the wings or the

Drover are not constructed with removable panels. The Drover uses round head rivets
to hold the skin in place [Appendix 15]. Round head rivets are used, as it is cheaper

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than counter sunk rivets and the wings are not required to be thick, which is a
requirement for the use of counter sunk rivets. However the use of round head rivets
makes the job of maintenance and inspection more difficult. Each individual rivet must
be carefully inspected and maintained. As the wings are not made up of removable
panels, replacing damaged sections is a more difficult and expensive task.

5.2 TAILPLANE STRUCTURES

Layout/Size/Materials: The de Havilland Drover has a conventional tailplane 4.87

meters long and 3.05 meters high [Appendix 7]. Like the wing the production process
used was the conventional form of stressed skin metal constructions. Both the tailplane
and the fin are conventional all metal structures built using the same high strength
aluminum alloys as the wing, DTD547 and DTD364. The movable control surfaces
such as the rudder and elevators are metal structures with fabric coverings. Fabric
coverings are used as they are cheaper and also lightweight, which were the two
requirements in the construction of the Drover.

Joining details/Inspection/Maintenance: Similar to the wings the tailplane is not

made up of removable panels with the skin being help together by the use of round
head rivets and in certain places, pop rivets are used. The use a round head rivets and
especially pop rivets, increases the need for thorough inspection and maintenance. The
use of fabric on movable control surfaces also requires additional care and
safeguarding.

6. COMPARISON

6.1 WING STRUCTURES

SIMILARITIES
Layout: Both aircraft wings are non Vampire Wing Span: 11.5 meters
swept, cantilevered wings
DIFFERENCES
Drover Wing Span: 17.4 meters
Structure: Vampire has a single main spar
whereas the drover has a main spar and
three false spars.
Materials: Vampire uses Alclad skin
whereas Drover uses aluminum alloys
and fabric for moving control surfaces.
Joining details: Vampire uses counter
sunk rivets and screws, whereas Drover
uses flush rivets.
Inspection/Maintenance. Drover requires
much more care in inspection and more
maintenance than the Vampire.
Vampire engine is inside fuselage and air
intake is at root of the wing. Drover
engines attached to wings using welded
steel bearers.

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6.2 TAILPLANE STRUCTURES

SIMILARITES DIFFERENCES
Vampire: H-Tail
Drover: Conventional Tail
Vampire tail length: 3.8 meters
Vampire tail height: 1.2 meters
Drover tail length: 4.07 meters
Drover tail height: 3.05 meters
Materials: Materials: Vampire uses
Alclad skin whereas Drover uses
aluminum alloys and fabric for moving
control surfaces.
Joining details: Vampire uses counter
sunk rivets and screws, whereas Drover
uses flush rivets.
Inspection/Maintenance. Drover requires
much more care in inspection and more
maintenance than the Vampire.

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