DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW.1 – XJ482

DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN FAW.1

First proposed in 1946, the prototype DH110 flew in September 1951 but broke up in mid-air at the Farnborough Air Show in 1952, killing the test pilot. RAF interest was lost, but the Royal Navy had a need for an advanced all-weather fighter so structural changes were made to the second prototype and it flew in September 1954. After acceptance trials, production started the following January, and the first fully navalised FAW.1 aircraft flew in March 1957; it progressively replaced the Sea Venom from 1960.

XJ482

This was the ninth production aircraft built at Christchurch and went to 700Y Flight at Yeovilton in November 1958; this unit was reformed as 892 Squadron in July 1959. The aircraft returned to the factory in February 1959 and was prepared for cold chamber tests; it was delivered to Vickers at Wisley in July. Then to 766B Flight at Yeovilton but back to Christchurch in February 1961 via a period at Abbotsinch. To 766 Squadron in March 1962 at Yeovilton (coded 713 VL) where it was sometimes lead aircraft in the stations aerobatic team “Fred’s Five” until February 1967. It became an instructional airframe at Lee-on-Solent and then the gate guardian. In July 1972 it went to Flight Refuelling in Dorset for trials with the universal drone pack, and after this work, it was sold to the Museum, arriving in November 1979; the mark is now very rare. It reflects the Royal Navy’s use of Bungay (Flixton)airfield during 1945/6 when it was HMS Europa, the satellite of HMS Sparrowhawk at Halesworth, and the base for Fleet Air Arm Squadrons 762 and 798.

Technical Information

  • Year Built: 1958
  • Manufacturer: De Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd
  • Purpose: Carrier-borne all-weather interceptor or strike fighter
  • Crew: 2
  • Engines: Two 11,230lb (5,093k”) Rolls-Royce Avon 208
  • Armament:
    • Four Firestreak missiles or four Microcell rocket packs, 28x2in rockets.
    • Two 1,000lb (453kg) bombs in the strike role
  • Maximum Speed: 690mph (1,110kph)
  • Service Ceiling: 48,000ft (14,630m)
  • Range: 1,200 miles ( 1,931 km)
  • Wing Span: 51ft (1 5.5m)
  • Length: 55ft 7in (16.8m)
  • Height: 10ft 9in (3.3m)
  • Gross Weight: 35,0001b (15,876kg)