Sea Vixen
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Bit of a thread drift but the Shuttleworth Gladiator had to make a forced landing today due to what appears to be engine problems. Happy to say that the Pilot walked away and the Gladiator appears to vitually undamaged.
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Many thanks to all of those who have worked so hard over the years to keep this wonderful Sea Vixen flying, be they maintainers, pilots, support staff, fund raisers, etc. Also what a great credit to the pilot and the aircraft designers that the aircraft could survive so well after such a wheels up landing. Best wishes with the repairs and I hope that this great aircraft will be gracing the skies again as soon as possible.
I guess it also depends on spares availability... I seem to recall a few years ago the team changed one of these after small metal particles were identified in the oil filter?
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Seen on the key forums site today:
"Brief news item on BBC spotlight this morning. Interviewing the "Chief Engineer", who said that so far they had not found any damage that would stop it flying again, but it will take another two weeks to complete the inspection."
I've not found the clip/news item myself yet, but if true this is welcome news. I guess serious funds will be needed now if the aircraft is to be rebuilt back to airworthiness...
"Brief news item on BBC spotlight this morning. Interviewing the "Chief Engineer", who said that so far they had not found any damage that would stop it flying again, but it will take another two weeks to complete the inspection."
I've not found the clip/news item myself yet, but if true this is welcome news. I guess serious funds will be needed now if the aircraft is to be rebuilt back to airworthiness...
A very short piece here from about 32:50:
BBC Local Live: 'Serious failures' at council children's services - BBC News
Summarised as:
Nevertheless, nothing has yet been found which would prevent the aircraft being repaired and flying again!
BBC Local Live: 'Serious failures' at council children's services - BBC News
Summarised as:
Engineers still don't know whether a rare Cold War fighter aircraft can be repaired after its emergency landing at Yeovilton's naval air station two weeks ago.
The only flying example of the Sea Vixen was on its way back from an airshow but it's wheels didn't come down and it was forced to do a belly landing.
Experts at Royal Navy historic flight are still trying to assess the damage and say it's too soon yet to say whether it will fly again.
The only flying example of the Sea Vixen was on its way back from an airshow but it's wheels didn't come down and it was forced to do a belly landing.
Experts at Royal Navy historic flight are still trying to assess the damage and say it's too soon yet to say whether it will fly again.
Thanks Beagle.
I guess it's a case of no news is good news... I'm really hoping it is good news although this aircraft seems to evoke polarising opinions on here!
I guess it's a case of no news is good news... I'm really hoping it is good news although this aircraft seems to evoke polarising opinions on here!
It would be tragic if the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and couldn't return to flight.
In some ways this aircraft is a natural replacement for the Vulcan on the airshow circuit as a Cold War 'heavy' jet.
In some ways this aircraft is a natural replacement for the Vulcan on the airshow circuit as a Cold War 'heavy' jet.
NickB wrote:
I hope so too as I have rather a soft spot for the 'Vixen!
51 (
) years ago after I'd won an RAF Scholarship, the RAF wouldn't let me have an air experience flight in a Chipmunk as our school only had a pongo section of the CCF; however, thanks to a family friend, the FAA gave me a trip in the coal hole of a 'Vixen - in the 1966 Farnborough Air Show display, no less! No clear view looker's roof in those days - all I could see were the pilot's legs and the outside world through the small side window. But it was a fantastic experience!!
I'm really hoping it is good news although this aircraft seems to evoke polarising opinions on here!
51 (
) years ago after I'd won an RAF Scholarship, the RAF wouldn't let me have an air experience flight in a Chipmunk as our school only had a pongo section of the CCF; however, thanks to a family friend, the FAA gave me a trip in the coal hole of a 'Vixen - in the 1966 Farnborough Air Show display, no less! No clear view looker's roof in those days - all I could see were the pilot's legs and the outside world through the small side window. But it was a fantastic experience!!
There was a little piece about it on the B.B.C. south west local news programme this evening. It would seem that the team are (fairly) confident that it'll be cleaving the air again one day.
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NickB wrote:
I hope so too as I have rather a soft spot for the 'Vixen!
51 ( ) years ago after I'd won an RAF Scholarship, the RAF wouldn't let me have an air experience flight in a Chipmunk as our school only had a pongo section of the CCF; however, thanks to a family friend, the FAA gave me a trip in the coal hole of a 'Vixen - in the 1966 Farnborough Air Show display, no less! No clear view looker's roof in those days - all I could see were the pilot's legs and the outside world through the small side window. But it was a fantastic experience!!
I hope so too as I have rather a soft spot for the 'Vixen!
51 (
) years ago after I'd won an RAF Scholarship, the RAF wouldn't let me have an air experience flight in a Chipmunk as our school only had a pongo section of the CCF; however, thanks to a family friend, the FAA gave me a trip in the coal hole of a 'Vixen - in the 1966 Farnborough Air Show display, no less! No clear view looker's roof in those days - all I could see were the pilot's legs and the outside world through the small side window. But it was a fantastic experience!!you missed a great show!
NickB wrote:
I hope so too as I have rather a soft spot for the 'Vixen!
51 ( ) years ago after I'd won an RAF Scholarship, the RAF wouldn't let me have an air experience flight in a Chipmunk as our school only had a pongo section of the CCF; however, thanks to a family friend, the FAA gave me a trip in the coal hole of a 'Vixen - in the 1966 Farnborough Air Show display, no less! No clear view looker's roof in those days - all I could see were the pilot's legs and the outside world through the small side window. But it was a fantastic experience!!
I hope so too as I have rather a soft spot for the 'Vixen!
51 (
) years ago after I'd won an RAF Scholarship, the RAF wouldn't let me have an air experience flight in a Chipmunk as our school only had a pongo section of the CCF; however, thanks to a family friend, the FAA gave me a trip in the coal hole of a 'Vixen - in the 1966 Farnborough Air Show display, no less! No clear view looker's roof in those days - all I could see were the pilot's legs and the outside world through the small side window. But it was a fantastic experience!!A friend of mine is an ex-FAA Observer on Phantoms although he started his training on Vixens - he couldn't wait to get on to F4s as it wasn't a pleasant place to be in the coalhole, day in, day out. I think a lot of the time was spent assisting the pilot with fuel management!
Fingers crossed she gets back into the air.
Although it was returned to flight in civilian hands many years before the Vulcan.