Thunder & Lightnings

de Havilland Sea Vixen - Walkaround Photos

Most of these closeup pictures are of the Midland Air Museum's Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN685 and FAW.2 XJ494 at the Phoenix Air Museum. I'd like to express my appreciation to Barry James at the Midland Air Museum and Dave Thomas, Matthew Wainwright and Steven Perriss at the Phoenix Air Museum for allowing such good access to their aircraft.

Cockpits

Pilot's cockpit - FAW.1 XJ476. Lots of missing instruments etc. and this was a trials aircraft but regardless this shot still illustrates that there aren't many differences evident between the Mk.1 and Mk.2 cockpits. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XN685. Note that the coaming edgings and large D-shaped handle on the left are missing from this aircraft. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XN685. The bright orange handle is the manual canopy winder, and would be stowed away when not being used. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XN685. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XJ494. This was a Martel missile trials aircraft and has non-standard instruments e.g. the Buccaneer-style attitude indicator in the centre and the radar altimeter above that. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XJ494. This was a Martel missile trials aircraft and has non-standard instruments e.g. the Buccaneer-style attitude indicator in the centre and the radar altimeter above that. Observer's cockpit - FAW.2 XN685. Observer's cockpit - FAW.2 XN685. Note joystick for steering the radar dish, twin radar scopes with protective hood and the gap through which the pilot's thigh can be stabbed as and when necessary. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XN685. Not a very good photo, but this shows the area behind the pilot's seat. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XJ494. Not a very good photo, but this shows the area behind the pilot's seat. Pilot's cockpit - FAW.2 XJ494. Not a very good photo, but this shows the area behind the pilot's seat. Pilot's windscreen - FAW.2 XN685. Note substantial framing in the middle - as well as containing air conditioning pipes, it helped to protect the pilot in the event of a barrier engagement on landing. The red cover is blocking the hot air vent used to keep the windscreen clear of rain. Pilot's windscreen - FAW.2 XJ494. This shows the rain clearance slots, and how the windscreen originally just met the top of the fuselage before the fairing hiding the rain clearance pipe was added. Observer's hatch - FAW.2 XJ494. This is the earlier style of hatch, with only a tiny window, which was usually painted black to keep the observer's cockpit dark and improve the view of the radar screens. Observer's hatch - FAW.2 XN685. This is the later style of hatch, with a bulged mounting and frangible area to eject through. While this area was transparent, most were painted black to keep the observer's cockpit dark and improve the view of the radar screens.

Nose and radar

Opened radome and AI.18R radar - FAW.2 XN685. The FAW.1 is similar. Jutting out of the right of the photo is the latch to unlock the radome, and above that an open access panel. Opened radome and AI.18R radar - FAW.2 XN685. The FAW.1 is similar. Jutting out of the right of the nose as we look at it is the latch to unlock the radome, and above that an open access panel. Opened radome and AI.18R radar - FAW.2 XN685. The FAW.1 is similar. Opened radome and AI.18R radar - FAW.2 XS576. Note the cover over most of the radar innards - this was standard fit when in service, and would only be removed for maintenance. Starboard nose radar electrical distribution and test socket panel open - FAW.2 XN685. Port nose radar main power unit access panel open - FAW.2 XN685. General view - FAW.2 XJ494. Note the earlier style of observer's hatch and non-standard radome on this aircraft, with a camera port below. Also this aircraft is undergoing a repaint and lacks most markings normally seen on this side of the nose. General view - FAW.2 XJ494. Note the earlier style of observer's hatch and non-standard radome on this aircraft, with a camera port below. General view - FAW.2 XN685. This tiny window is all the observer had to look out of, and was often covered with a curtain (as here). Note bulged hatch surround, hatch handle and standard Sea Vixen ladder (same both sides, usually painted red). Pure air bottle access - FAW.2 XJ494. These pop-down doors housed microcell rockets on the FAW.1. General view - FAW(TT).2 XS587. Note the boxy extensions to the undernose bulges on this aircraft - part of the target towing mods? General view - FAW(TT).2 XS587. Note the boxy extensions to the undernose bulges on this aircraft - part of the target towing mods?

Fuselage and engines

Central fuselage and nose - FAW.2 XN685. Port boundary layer spill ducts - FAW.2 XN685. Aerial detail on central fuselage - FAW.2 XN685. Canopy rear fairing to bottom right of shot. Not all markings are present on this aircraft and some vents and intakes have been taped over with silver tape. Central fuselage - FAW.2 XN685. Not all markings are present on this aircraft and some vents and intakes have been taped over with silver tape. Central fuselage - FAW.2 XJ494. Not all markings are present on this aircraft. This is the middle port engine access panel. Central fuselage - FAW.2 XJ494. Starboard engine with middle access panel removed. Central fuselage - FAW.2 XJ494. Starboard engine with middle access panel removed. Rear fuselage - FAW.2 XJ494. Starboard engine with rear access panel removed. Rear fuselage and RAT doors - FAW.2 XN685. Ram Air Turbine in deployed position - FAW.2 XN691. Interior of bay and doors is white. Engine exhausts - FAW.2 XN685. The blanking plates are standard Port engine exhaust - FAW.2 XN685. The probes sticking into the exhaust are jet pipe temperature probes. Port engine exhaust - FAW.2 XN685. Please ignore the assorted spare parts being stored in here! An in-service example wouldn't show all this white surface corrosion and would be gun metal in colour. Starboard side identical. Starboard engine intake - FAW.2 XN685. The intake cover is standard and the other side would be a mirror image. Port engine intake - FAW.2 XN685. The intake interior is natural metal with shiny cone on the engine and gunmetal compressor blades. The starboard side is similar - but note the tube leading away from the engine cone goes to the right as you face it on both engines - ie. it is not a mirror image on the other side. Port engine - FAW.2 XN685. The intake interior is natural metal with shiny cone on the engine and gunmetal compressor blades. The starboard side is similar - but note the tube leading away from the engine cone goes to the right as you face it on both engines - ie. it is not a mirror image on the other side. Under port central fuselage, looking to starboard - FAW.2 XN685. Under port central fuselage, looking to starboard - FAW.2 XJ494. Note engine cooling intake. Under port rear fuselage, looking forward and to starboard - FAW.2 XJ494. Arrestor hook is at top right. General underside view - D.3 XP924. She's no longer in these colours but this shot does show a lot of underside detail. General topside view - D.3 XP924. She's no longer in these colours but this shot does show a lot of topside detail.

Wings

Port wing - FAW.2 XN685. General view. Port wing - FAW.2 XN685. Outer wing - note fairing over the wingfold area. Port tailboom - FAW.2 XJ494. These are four access doors for the various electrical and avionic systems mounted in this area of the booms. Port tailboom - FAW.2 XN685. Forward access door - electrical connections and junction box. Port tailboom - FAW.2 XN685. Forward/centre access door - launching sequence unit Port tailboom - FAW.2 XN685. Aft/centre access door - acquisition unit Port tailboom - FAW.2 XN685. Aft access door - liquid oxygen tank (missing - see next picture for similar bottle on starboard side). Starboard tailboom - FAW.2 XJ494. Forward access door - electrical connections and fuses. Starboard tailboom - FAW.2 XJ494. Centre & aft access doors. From left to right - acquisition or fire control unit (missing - see earlier picture of port side for similar unit), four missile conversion unit and in the aft bay, liquid oxygen tank. Starboard tailboom - FAW.2 XJ494. Aft access door - liquid oxygen tank. The curved surface it is mounted on is the original smaller boom as on the FAW.1. Starboard tailboom - FAW.2 XJ494. One of the access doors - the four are identical in construction though the aft one is not as wide as the others (about two-thirds the width). Starboard tailboom - FAW.2 XJ494. View forward showing the slightly raised piano hinges along the top of the four access doors. Port wing - FAW.2 XN685. Closeup of flight refuelling probe and boom area. Port wing - FAW.2 XN685. Closeup of flight refuelling probe head. Port wing - FAW.2 XN685. Pylons and refuelling probe mount. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ494. Wing fence - identical to the one on the starboard wing. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ494. Pitot probe - starboard side identical. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ494. General view. The duct running along the boom is not standard, and was part of the Martel missile trials fit on this particular aircraft. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ494. Port navigation beacon, forward facing on port wing tip. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ494. Port navigation beacon, rear facing on port aileron tip. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ494. Underside fairing over the wingfold area. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ576. Red Top missile - note shoe between missile and pylon, and the fairing over the refuelling probe mount on this aircraft. Starboard wing - FAW.2 XN685. Pylons. Three different pylons on each wing! Starboard wing - FAW.2 XJ484. Outermost (heavy stores) pylon and standard Sea Vixen drop tank. Starboard wing - FAW.2 XN685. Fuel dump pipe. Note trailing edge of the wing is part of the flaps. Starboard wing - FAW.2 XJ494. Fuel dump pipe. Starboard wing - D.3 XP924. Some wing fold detail - excuse the quality, a rather old photo. Starboard wing - D.3 XP924. Wing fold detail. Port wing - D.3 XP924. Wing fold detail. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ565. Flap detail. Note how the curved part of the flap wraps under the tailboom and top surface colour continues onto top of flaps. Port wing - FAW.2 XJ565. Outer flap bay. Interior is white (honest guv!). Port wing - FAW.2 XJ565. Inner flap bay. Interior is white. Starboard wing - FAW.2 XJ565. Flap detail. Note how the curved part of the flap wraps under the tailboom and top surface colour continues onto top of flaps. Starboard wing - FAW.2 XJ565. Outer flap bay. Interior is white (honest guv!).

Undercarriage

Nose gear - FAW.2 XN685. Note rear door would normally be closed except when the gear is cycling open or closed. Leg, door and bay interiors in light blue/grey, wheel hub natural metal. Nose gear - FAW.2 XN685. Note coloured lights on the forward door, for the LSO on the carrier to see if the aircraft's approach speed is correct. Nose gear bay - FAW.2 XN685 (top is forward). The gear leg 'cracks' in two to fit inside this short bay, which is coloured light blue/grey inside. Nose gear - FAW.2 XN685. Leg, door and bay interiors in light blue/grey, wheel hub natural metal. Port main gear - FAW.2 XN685. Leg, door and bay interiors in light blue/grey, wheel hub natural metal. Port main gear - FAW.2 XN685. Leg, door and bay interiors in light blue/grey, wheel hub natural metal. Starboard main gear - FAW.2 XN685. Leg, door and bay interiors in light blue/grey, wheel hub natural metal. Starboard main gear - FAW.2 XJ560. The inner door would normally be closed, and has only sagged open here due to lack of hydraulic pressure. Starboard main gear bay - FAW.2 XJ494. Door and bay interiors in light blue/grey. You normally wouldn't get to see this area as the main door closes except when the gear is cycling. Arrestor hook - FAW.2 XN685. Hook and rear bay is white; tip is black, forward bay and door interior is light blue grey. Arrestor hook bay - FAW.2 XN685. Rear bay is white; forward bay and door interior is light blue grey. Air brake - FAW.2 XN685. Bay interior is dirty grey, brake interior is dirty white. Lots of wiring and gubbins to be found here! The red chain is a museum addition to stop the brake sagging fully open. Air brake - FAW.2 XJ494. Bay interior is dirty grey, brake interior is dirty white. The extension ram is disconnected and so this brake has sagged open further than it usually would.

Tail

Tail - FAW.2 XS576. General view - shows wing fold angle, and props to hold the wings in place. Tail - FAW.2 XS576. Starboard boom and tail, outer side. Tail - FAW.2 XJ560. Starboard boom and tail, outer side. Note the oval shaped rudder balance extending outward from the marking on the tail because the rudder is deflected. Tail - FAW.2 XJ494. Starboard boom and tail, inner side. Tail - FAW.2 XJ494. Port tail trailing edge formation lights. The other side has no lights. Tail - FAW.2 XJ560. Port boom and tail, inner side. Note the oval shaped rudder balance extending outward from the tail because the rudder is deflected. Tail - FAW.2 XJ494. This is the inboard side of the port tail boom. Note inward-tilting aerial and that there is no NACA intake on the oval panel on this side, but there are on the similar panel on the other side, and both panels on the starboard boom.