That Seaking
As this string started with a Seaking with a radar bulb on the nose, I can give an update on what it was used for. I was a Spec Nav at Bedford 1978-81 as Nav Leader and then OC Radar Research Sqn (RRS), which had moved fm Pershore in early 78.
RRS had 15 aircrew (pilots, navs & an air eng) and over 20 ac - 10 Canberra (Mks 2, 3, 4, 6, 6-7 hybrid, 7 & 9), 2 Buccs, 1 Hunter 8, 1 Meteor 14, 1 Nimrod, 1 Varsity, 2 Viscounts, 1 Comet 4, 1 Seaking, 2 Wessex & 1 Puma. I can give ser nos and what each was used for if anyone is interested.
Seaking XV651 had the Naval Lynx 'Seaspray' radar in the nose for basic development work and mating to the 'Sea Skua' sea-skimming missile, which it guided. A Sea Skua radar head was held captive in the nose of one of our Canberras - B6 XH568. A typical sortie saw the Seaking hover over the sea just off Aberporth at 275 ft; the Canberra would fly beneath it at 50 ft, simulating having just been fired from the heli. The Canberra would follow the missile head whilst the naval target tried to decoy it.
Flying at 50 ft was interesting - the pilot did not look inside and the nav gave a continuous patter of height and speed, whilst the 3rd-seat boffin would give steering info from the missile. Each sortie started with 50 ft runs over Thurleigh runway to get the pilot/nav patter working.
'Have more info and a few pics fm Thurleigh - was certainly the best flying in my RAF time.
David B