DH.110 Sea Vixen
The DH.110 Sea Vixen is a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed from an earlier first generation jet fighter. It was manufactured by de Havilland.
Originally known as the DH.110, the DH.110 was designed for both the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm as an all-weather, missile-armed, high-speed jet fighter. The prototype first flew on September 26, 1951 and was piloted by John Cunningham. The next year, a tragedy occurred while the aircraft was being demonstrated at the Farnborough Air Show on September 6, 1952. Following a demonstration of the aircraft’s ability to break the sound barrier, it disintegrated and killed 31 people, with the aircraft’s two crew. The culprit was due to faulty design of the end sections of the main spar, resulting in the outer ends of the wings shearing off an execution of a high-rate turn. Due to the aforementioned incident, modifications were made to the other prototype. In 1955, a further DH.110 was produced, a semi-navalised variant including change of leading edge profile and strengthening of wing, as a prototype for the production version. The prototype flew also that same year.
The DH.110 Sea Vixen became the first British aircraft to be solely armed with missiles, rockets and bombs. The DH.110’s original design was fitted with cannons. The pilot’s canopy is offset to the left hand side. The navigator was housed to the right completely within the fuselage, gaining access through a flush-fitting top hatch into his space which had a small window. The DH.110 Sea Vixen didn’t saw any true wars during its career with the Fleet Air Arm but participated in many operations, including operation in Persian Gulf and duties on Beira Patrol. The Sea Vixen also performed in aerobatic role.
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