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These pictures were taken at RNAS Yeovilton on September 29 2001 at a reunion open to all ex-Sea Vixen fliers, maintenance crews and partners. There were also some aviation enthusiasts in attendance.
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Losing height over the runway |
| A typical low flair Sea Vixen approach. The nose would be raised for aerodynamic braking soon after touch down. |
Touch down |
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The end of a rattling good display that had the veterans impressed moreover one completed without any obvious incident. Whilst in front line service hardly a day passed at Yeovilton without something happening requiring the deployment of the 'Crash and Salvage' (Crash and Smash to the troops) team.
Indeed I spent a very interesting time on that section for a while in 1966. On one occasion we had carried out the routine servicing of the 'Projector Sight' (Deck landing aid which replaced the mirror type) at the normal duty end of the main runway (which XP 924 was using in 2001). We were on our way to the other end of the runway to service the twin when, the morning having worn on, the senior rate in charge decided that we had better get a coffee break in first while the going was good. The coffee was hardly wet when there was an emergency call-out. It transpired that a Vixen had burst a tyre on landing and had slewed off the runway demolishing the reflector sight. Along with one Firestreak missile and a drop tank. |
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