De Havilland Sea Vixen at the Bournemouth Airshow
The de Havilland Sea Vixen was an early carrier based jet fighter,
used in the UK between 1959 and 1972. It had an unusual twin
boom tail.
(Below: de Havilland Sea Vixen in fly past at the Bournemouth
Airshow 2011)
The de Havilland Sea Vixen
Role: Carrier Based Fighter,
crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
Maximum Speed: 690mph (mach .91) at sea level,
thrust/weight: 0.54, rate of
climb: 46 m/s
Range: 790 miles, service
ceiling: 14 600m
Wingspan: 15.54m, length: 16.94m,
height: 3.28m, wing loading: 313
kg/m2
First Flight: 1951, in use with Fleet Air
Arm and Royal Navy: 1959 to 1972
Production Total: 145
Two de Havilland fighter jets that preceeded the Vixen, the Vampire (1945-1966 UK service) and the Venum (1951-1970 UK service), both had a simular tail design.
The Sea Vixen was the first fighter to have no canons, just six points for fixing rockets, air to air missiles or free fall nuclear bombs. The Vixen was designed to fly in all weather. It was never used in warfare, only on operations in foreign conflicts. None were lost to attack, although 54 of the 145 built were lost in accidents during it's 13 years service.
(Below:The Vixen in aerobatics over the sea in Poole Bay during the 2011 Bournemouth Airshow)
See all images of de Havilland Sea Vixen in the gallery here
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