D.H. Sea Vixen
When the Lightning Association bought XR724 off of the RAF in 1991/2 after BAe had returned it to the RAF once they had finished with it, when they reduced the 'borrowed' fleet of ex-RAF F.6's at Warton from 4 down to 2 as the Tornado radar trials started to be wound down, and BAe had flown '724 to RAF Shawbury, she had not been maintained with anti-det etc. So, by the time LA acquired her, she needed engine change and other stuff, and this was all done by Lightning Association people, and with much help with Barry Power and his team (and his zero time engines) but CAA would not let her make the ferry flight to Binbook from Shawbury under its G-BTSY reg without the DA in place. In the end, BAe stepped in with a huge offer, and re-took ownership of her, removed the G-reg, Baz Livesey of BAe Warton was quite happy to sign her off, and BAe TP Peter Gordon-Johnson flew her to Binbook from Shawbury, under COMA and her military serial with no problems, such was BAe's happiness that she had been prepared properly by the LA team etc.
It proved it could be done, but, obviously without a DA in place, it 'legally' couldn't be done under G-reg. That was about the closet it ever come to pass in the UK, so to speak. Barry P tried very hard with his T.5 and the two F6's bought from BAe when they finished the Tornado trials, based on what they had achieved with '724, but that DA was still the stumbling block.
I'm not certain it was the CAA that stopped the Sea Vixen drone programme. I think I read that the MoD decided they were too expensive to either convert or shoot down, or possibly both.
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Just joined the forum as I'm seeking information on the Sea Vixen and so it was great to find this thread that I am now following. And yes, fascinating to read about the aircraft, but also tragic to read about the number of lives lost in Sea Vixen crashes. My mother's first husband was a Sea Vixen pilot, but she was tragically widowed after less than 4 months of marriage when he was involved in a fatal crash. I don't want to divert the topic of this thread or incorrectly post on my first post in the forum, hence keeping my message brief, but I'd love to connect with anyone who can put me in touch with the webmaster of the Sea Vixen.org website as it's currently not able to accept registrations.
For the last few years I worked at FR, I had a Sea Vixen parked outside my office window. It was being used as a model for the drone conversion. When I mentioned this to a good friend of mine who had two operational tours in them, he didn't think that they would be successful. He said that the fuel system was too complicated and that he never really understood it until he took over the simulator at Yeovilton. Twenty years later he went on to play a very significant role in securing the last Sea Vixen for display flying. Sadly he never got to fly it in that role.
The OP may be interested to read the following link:-
https://vintageaviationecho.com/flying-the-sea-vixen/
https://vintageaviationecho.com/flying-the-sea-vixen/
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I recall a few Sea Vixens in a hangar on the south side at Farnborough when I attended the 1978 airshow.
pulse 1,
I recall that Sea Vixen at Hurn in mid 1980s. It was flown by a man in a van beside the runway with the pilot in the cockpit placing his hands on top of his white helmet during take off and landing. I was across the runway at Glos Air at the time.
I recall that Sea Vixen at Hurn in mid 1980s. It was flown by a man in a van beside the runway with the pilot in the cockpit placing his hands on top of his white helmet during take off and landing. I was across the runway at Glos Air at the time.
Last edited by dixi188; 6th May 2024 at 14:05.
When I was a baby rigger at Halton in the late '70's there was a Sea Vixen in the tech sheds. We used it
as a training aid for the liquid oxygen system. If memory serves I believe the LOX pot was in one of the over wing booms.
as a training aid for the liquid oxygen system. If memory serves I believe the LOX pot was in one of the over wing booms.
In the 1970s there was at least one at Cranwell at the aero/thermo building on the south side. Amongst other things they were used to give student engineers experience of marshalling. I never did it myself, but occasionally QFIs would go across to drive them. The brief was to precisely follow the marshalling instructions. I was told that the wing fold came in useful on occasions when the marshalling went a little awry.
YS
YS
For the last few years I worked at FR, I had a Sea Vixen parked outside my office window. It was being used as a model for the drone conversion. When I mentioned this to a good friend of mine who had two operational tours in them, he didn't think that they would be successful. He said that the fuel system was too complicated and that he never really understood it until he took over the simulator at Yeovilton. Twenty years later he went on to play a very significant role in securing the last Sea Vixen for display flying. Sadly he never got to fly it in that role.
When were you at Hurn for FR?
When were you at Hurn for FR?
I was at FRE in Wimborne from 1966 to 1979. When I joined, the flying was still at Tarrant Rushton so it was quite a task to bring a complete Sea Vixen to the empty space beside my office. As far as I can remember, the wings were still attached and it made an excellent conversation point for visitors to my office. I started to learn to fly shortly after I joined FRE and the Safety Section at Tarrant provided me with a superb leather helmet complete with headphones and oxygen mask. I still have it but sadly am very unlikely to use it again.
As an apprentice I was seconded to Brian Nurthen for a while
Fond memories of catapult launches at RAE Bedford.
On dry land, not a heaving rolling deck; better than a fairground ride.
XN 653 retained for cable development and testing new ideas. Manned target work at Aberporth and radar / IR at RRSE Pershore. Fitted with experimental digital fuel gauging system.
Modified colour scheme - the Admirals Barge, for use of OC Bedford. Handed over to the RAF as the Navy presence declined; ended up at Farnborough for scrap, unsuitable for drone modification.
On dry land, not a heaving rolling deck; better than a fairground ride.
XN 653 retained for cable development and testing new ideas. Manned target work at Aberporth and radar / IR at RRSE Pershore. Fitted with experimental digital fuel gauging system.
Modified colour scheme - the Admirals Barge, for use of OC Bedford. Handed over to the RAF as the Navy presence declined; ended up at Farnborough for scrap, unsuitable for drone modification.
He was a very good electronics and computing man too and I recall was very innovative in introducing first generation PC technology in automating production at FRE.
Her mother later re-married another Sea Vixen pilot, Lt.Cdr Simon Idiens, leader of the famous Sea Vixen display team 'Simons Sircus', who sadly also later was killed while flying a RN F-4 Phantom when Kristin Scott Thomas was only 12.
Last edited by GeeRam; 8th May 2024 at 17:53.
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[QUOTE[color=#000000]I recall a few Sea Vixens in a hangar on the south side at Farnborough when I attended the 1978 airshow.][/QUOTE]
Some Sea Vixens were used for the Martel Missile trials in the early 70's. Don't know if they would still have been around in 1978
Some Sea Vixens were used for the Martel Missile trials in the early 70's. Don't know if they would still have been around in 1978