PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - So, I take it Aircraft recognition is not a strong point in the Senior Service.
Old 11th Nov 2009, 07:05
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BEagle
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
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The photo is laterally inverted and shows the de Havilland Test Pilot Jock Elliot conducting flight deck evaluation trials with HMS Albion in September 1954 in WG240, a DH110 prototype. This aircraft did not have wingfold capability nor was the undercarriage strengthened for carrier deck operations. It did, however, conduct a few touch-and-go landings on Albion.

In 1955, XF828 the semi-navalised development 'Mk20X' aircraft flew and conducted full deck trials aboard HMS Ark Royal in April 1956 after successful trials at RAE Bedford.

XJ474, the first actual 'Vixen flew in 1957 and the type entered naval service in 1959 as the FAW.1 - later followed in 1964 by the improved FAW.2.


And 2 years later I was lucky enough to get a trip in the 'coal hole' of an early FAW.2 with 892 Sqn!
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