De Havilland Sea Vixen (1967)

1962-1975 650 manufactured

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Development

(To come)

Design

The De Havilland Sea Vixen is a British twin-engine, twin-boom, carrier-based fighter aircraft developed during the late 1950s. It was designed by the De Havilland Aircraft Company, primarily for service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The Sea Vixen was intended to provide fleet defense and strike capabilities. But it ended as one of the strangeest naval jets ever developed, a true confirmartion of funvtion over form.

The Sea Vixen had a distinctive twin-boom design with a swept wing configuration. It featured a tailless delta wing design, which was quite advanced for its time. Its primary role was as all-weather fleet defense interceptor. It was capable of carrying air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface missiles, making it versatile in both air defense and ground attack roles.

The Sea Vixen was powered by twin Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines, which provided it with sufficient power for its missions. These engines were located in the fuselage behind the cockpit. For Armament it was armed with a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles such as the de Havilland Firestreak and later the Hawker Siddeley Red Top, as well as air-to-surface missiles like rockets and bombs.

Operational History: The Sea Vixen entered service with the Royal Navy in 1959 and served until 1972. It saw action during various conflicts, including the Aden Emergency. Despite its advanced design and capabilities, it was eventually replaced the McDonnell Douglas Phantom II. The Sea Vixen remains significant in aviation history as one of the last and most advanced British carrier-based fighters. Its unique design and capabilities make it a notable aircraft in the annals of military aviation. While no longer in active service, a few Sea Vixens have been preserved and can be seen in museums or as part of private collections. These serve as reminders of the aircraft's contribution to British naval aviation.

Specifications
Crew:	2: Pilot, Navigator/radar/weapon operator
Dimensions:	55 ft 7 in x 10 ft 9 in x 51 ft (16.94 x 3.28 x 15.54 m)
Wing area:	648 sq ft (60.2 m2)
Airfoil:	EC1040
Weight: Light/Gross	27,950 lb (12,678 kg)/41,575 lb (18,858 kg)
Max TO weight:	46,750 lb (21,205 kg)
Propulsion:	2× RR Avon 208 turbojet engines 11,000 lbf (49 kN) thrust each
Performances:	690 mph (1,110 km/h, 600 kn) - Mach 0.91
Service ceiling:	48,000 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb:	9,000 ft/min (46 m/s)
Range:	790 mi (1,270 km, 690 nmi) on internals
Armament	6 Hardpoints, rockets, bombs, Firestreak AAM, Bullpup AAG, Red Bard Nbomb
Avionics:	GEC AI.18 Air Interception radar