A beautiful piece of British Aviation, I`m ashamed to say I did`nt know of its existance `till I walked on the deck of the aircraft carrier mock-up at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. I was blown away, such a modern looking and capable jet, amazing. Recommend a visit to the museum to anyone.
Thanks. Its a perfect demonstration of the aircraft's camouflage I'm afraid - grey day, grey paint scheme. Feel free to check the video on our main website for a better quality version.
A very good video, which includes a "Derry Turn". I watched John Derry display the prototype DH110 four times during Farnborough Week in Sept 1952, the final time being on the day when the grey DH110 broke up. On its low fast pass, just prior to the crash, condensation flashed across the top of the aircraft, the first time that I had witnessed the phenomenon. This is briefly seen in this video. I still have the programme I purchased on the 6th Sept 1952. I have posted a video response.
I just read on Wikipedia that there are several Vixens that are preserved in good condition, this is the only one flying. If that is the case then we can be sure that future generations will be able to appreciate this very British aircraft that started its life in the late1940s. BTW an uncle of mine witnessed the tragic crash at Farnborough in the early fifties when a design flaw caused one of these to break up and crash into the crowd.
Fair enough. Another backs up my first comment though - "...provided the ACM took place at lower altitudes the Vixen could keep turning until the single seaters started to run out of fuel, the Red Top caught many as they tried to break away using afterburner"
Wow what a lovely sight! I thought the only Vixen flying in the UK was the Red Bull one in its bright colours. To see one in its authentic colour scheme is amazing. Does this belong to the RN historic flight? Ive not seen this before
@mrwideboy Sorry; those are RollsRoyce Avons(axial compressor)engines rated around 10,500# thrust each. No reheat(afterburn) provided. I have a very detailed one on my flight simulator...great plane!
It did surprisingly well against the Phantom FG.1 from what I've read (the Phantom ran out of fuel and had to recover before it had a chance to shoot down the Sea Vixen). What were it's contemporaries, btw?
It's true that the Speys reduced the Phantom's top speed, but they also increased its thrust-to-weight ratio, and I think they increased it's range too. We may have missed out on the TSR.2, but at least we had the Buccaneer, which could also carry out the nuclear strike role from our carriers (of course, it wasn't long before Labour decided we didn't need them any more either)
It didn't serve with the RAF - they chose the Javelin instead. The Sea Vixen was in service with the Fleet Air Arm, as an all-weather fleet defence fighter/interceptor (though I think it could be used in the strike role)
Talking to a Vulcan pilot of the 60's recently, the Sea Vixen was the only plane capable of getting near them at high altitude. This probably means it could lose a MIG at high alt as it had a greater wing area to out-turn.
I agree that its missiles let it down, but had it been equipped with the same weaponry as its contemporaries I think it would have stood a good chance against them. It's only other problem was it's thrust-to-weight ratio, but as I mentioned before this also meant that it could fight for longer (than the F-4, anyway)
"The Sea Vixen was only 60% of the weight of a [Buccaneer] and with 75% more thrust to urge it along it could, with its large wing area, easily out-turn and out-climb any opposition except the RAF's new interceptor, the Lightning and, perhaps, the Navy's Scimitar." An extract from 'Up In Harm's Way - Flying With The Fleet Air Arm' by Cdr. R.M. Crosley, who was also a qualified Empire Test Pilot
That just became my favorite British fighter. Too bad it didn't have a gun or go supersonic (except in a dive). I don't recall any other plane with that tail configuration. And rumor has it that Sea Vixens outdid some of the supersonic fighters back then in mock dogfights.
G-limit was 5.5g Check this site - seavixen (.org) I had to use brackets and spaces to let me post it, so don't put them in too. You should find some accounts of the Sea Vixen from (ex) pilots
What a wonderfully evocative sight...and a credit to the team that run and maintain her
Thank you for your service, Sir. 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Still a very powerful and menacing looking aeroplane, and still puts on a great show. Excellent video.
A beautiful piece of British Aviation, I`m ashamed to say I did`nt know of its existance `till I walked on the deck of the aircraft carrier mock-up at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
I was blown away, such a modern looking and capable jet, amazing. Recommend a visit to the museum to anyone.
What a handsome aircraft this was. Thanks for putting this up.
That is an exceptionally beautiful aircraft!
one of my fav jets to watch ever!
one of the nicest planes ever designed
I was there! it was so loud...unbelievable stuff! Can't wait till airfix release the kit
WOW! Excellent quality video, and brilliant Website. Wish I had an HD Camera when I was at Tarrant Rushton 30 years ago. Well Done!
Great aircraft - great display - I remember six of these over the crowd at Filton in the 1960s
Thanks. Its a perfect demonstration of the aircraft's camouflage I'm afraid - grey day, grey paint scheme. Feel free to check the video on our main website for a better quality version.
Nice to see her back in the air again :) Thanks for sharing Iain :D
another great british aircraft looks stunning
A very good video, which includes a "Derry Turn". I watched John Derry display the prototype DH110 four times during Farnborough Week in Sept 1952, the final time being on the day when the grey DH110 broke up. On its low fast pass, just prior to the crash, condensation flashed across the top of the aircraft, the first time that I had witnessed the phenomenon. This is briefly seen in this video. I still have the programme I purchased on the 6th Sept 1952. I have posted a video response.
Very graceful, seems like a smooth, stable platform.
That was really close down on the beach today. Awesome plane..
Great plane, lovely noise from the centrifugal engines
That is one beatiful aircraft.
That is one very classy aircraft.
As stated in my previous comment, the Sea Vixen was an all weather fighter with a secondary ground attack capability
I just read on Wikipedia that there are several Vixens that are preserved in good condition, this is the only one flying. If that is the case then we can be sure that future generations will be able to appreciate this very British aircraft that started its life in the late1940s.
BTW an uncle of mine witnessed the tragic crash at Farnborough in the early fifties when a design flaw caused one of these to break up and crash into the crowd.
I WAS THERE THAT DAY!!!
Fair enough. Another backs up my first comment though -
"...provided the ACM took place at lower altitudes the Vixen could keep turning until the single seaters started to run out of fuel, the Red Top caught many as they tried to break away using afterburner"
very cool looking jet..
Wow what a lovely sight! I thought the only Vixen flying in the UK was the Red Bull one in its bright colours. To see one in its authentic colour scheme is amazing. Does this belong to the RN historic flight? Ive not seen this before
@mrwideboy
Sorry; those are RollsRoyce Avons(axial compressor)engines
rated around 10,500# thrust each. No reheat(afterburn) provided.
I have a very detailed one on my flight simulator...great plane!
I want to own two!
It did surprisingly well against the Phantom FG.1 from what I've read (the Phantom ran out of fuel and had to recover before it had a chance to shoot down the Sea Vixen).
What were it's contemporaries, btw?
Nice one.
It's true that the Speys reduced the Phantom's top speed, but they also increased its thrust-to-weight ratio, and I think they increased it's range too.
We may have missed out on the TSR.2, but at least we had the Buccaneer, which could also carry out the nuclear strike role from our carriers (of course, it wasn't long before Labour decided we didn't need them any more either)
It didn't serve with the RAF - they chose the Javelin instead. The Sea Vixen was in service with the Fleet Air Arm, as an all-weather fleet defence fighter/interceptor (though I think it could be used in the strike role)
Red Bull sponsored the Sea Vixen in 2007 to keep it flying. It's now flying just a few shows as it has no backers at the moment.
@silverbird58 No, the only aircraft that has ever carried the AIM-54 was the US Navy's F-14
Love this aircraft in the original RN colors than the Red Bull colors.
I would have loved to be in the navigator's seat while doing these maneuvers!
She looks alot like the Vampire. I've always loved that tail boom design.
when will this aircraft be displaying again??? please let me know i would like to see it.
T'is the same aircraft gaz - operation by De Havilland Aviation out of Bournemouth.
Looks great in RN colours doesn't it?
Talking to a Vulcan pilot of the 60's recently, the Sea Vixen was the only plane capable of getting near them at high altitude. This probably means it could lose a MIG at high alt as it had a greater wing area to out-turn.
I agree that its missiles let it down, but had it been equipped with the same weaponry as its contemporaries I think it would have stood a good chance against them. It's only other problem was it's thrust-to-weight ratio, but as I mentioned before this also meant that it could fight for longer (than the F-4, anyway)
@sgtgrech I agree, but remember Red Bulls cash helped greatly in keeping this old beauty in the air!
Think it was a wrecked (but not destroyed) one of these (as well as another plane) my Father took me to see in the mid-60's in the New Forest.
I never knew that old bird was still flying. Long may she do so.
"The Sea Vixen was only 60% of the weight of a [Buccaneer] and with 75% more thrust to urge it along it could, with its large wing area, easily out-turn and out-climb any opposition except the RAF's new interceptor, the Lightning and, perhaps, the Navy's Scimitar."
An extract from 'Up In Harm's Way - Flying With The Fleet Air Arm' by Cdr. R.M. Crosley, who was also a qualified Empire Test Pilot
What role this plane does??
@Andypilot333 nuts to eurofighters but a tornado in bahrain colours is also pretty hot
Great camera work, but how come the colour is so bad?
Strange....Cockpit is off center....why??
Does anyone else think the sound is dubbed?
That just became my favorite British fighter. Too bad it didn't have a gun or go supersonic (except in a dive). I don't recall any other plane with that tail configuration. And rumor has it that Sea Vixens outdid some of the supersonic fighters back then in mock dogfights.
super good! to be a little heavy compared a conventional fighter
G-limit was 5.5g
Check this site - seavixen (.org)
I had to use brackets and spaces to let me post it, so don't put them in too. You should find some accounts of the Sea Vixen from (ex) pilots
i dont think it did,it flew off of Royal Navy carriers
Nice to see her back in the air & in her proper colour scheme not that Red Bull monstrosity.
Gah! Why do combat aircraft from the 50s and 60s still look so futuristic? Why don't modern ones? What went wrong!
I don't ;)