D.H. Vampire MK 52

When it began to use the English Vampire in 1950, the Italian Air Force got its first jet fighter. After a number of them had been purchased directly in England (MK 51), the planes began to be produced in Italy, on licence from De Havilland, by Macchi and by FIAT, marking the rebirth of national industry. This plane, along with other planes, was then used to equip the 4th, 5th and 2nd Air brigades. The Vampire is a one-seater plane, with fuselage beams, cantilever middle wings, and is of mixed structure (metal and wood). It is equipped with a Rolls Royce DH Goblin 2 jet turbo with 1500kg thrust, and has four 20mm guns as well as bombs and rockets. Thanks to its considerable manoeuvrability, the Vampire was chosen by the RAF for its acrobatic patrol, and then also equipped the Acrobatic Patrol of the "Cavallino Rampante" (4th Air brigade) of the Italian Air Force in 1951-52.