Sea Vixen 50 - Page 7

All images on this page © the author.

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.

Climbing away with a little right rudder on.

Dynax 7 and Sigma 50-500mm on Provia 400F at ISO 800, transparency scan at 710 dpi

The high all-flying slab tailplane is clearly visible. What appear to be an elevator is in effect a large trim tab. The twin boom configuration was chosen for its inherent rigidity and the simplicity of engine installation and minimal assymetric power with one engine out.

Boring in again for another across the crowd high speed turn.

Dynax 7 and Sigma 50-500mm on Provia 400F at ISO 800, transparency scan at 2820 dpi

The small aerodynamic dross section of the tail booms is evident here. Although an unusual configuration it endowed the Sea Vixen with a great deal of inherent robustness. This was a quality that made it very suitable for landing on a pitching flight deck and enabled it to survive many a bad landing which may have destroyed a more fragile aircraft.

Fragility was one feature, as well as a narrow track under carriage, that made the Spitfire, as the Seafire, not wholey suited to carrier operations as the accident casualty list testifies. This should be a lesson to all those who ever consider it a simple matter to modify a land plane for seagoing use. The Venom saga being a later example.

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