By: The Bump - 22nd August 2011 at 21:49
Just thought I’d say what a great display from the Sea Vixen at the B/mth Air Festival on Sunday.
A fantastic display of noise, power and aerobatics that made full use of the clear blue skies over the seafront.
Well done to the pilot Simon Hargreaves and all at DS Aviation.
Great display at Shoreham too, there had been a bit of a gap yesterday waiting for the Sea Vixen to transit along from Bournemouth, when it did arrive it caught many of the long lens brigade off guard prompting mutterings about the commentary……tee hee.
Lovely to see it again.
By: Hurn - 22nd August 2011 at 21:05
Just thought I’d say what a great display from the Sea Vixen at the B/mth Air Festival on Sunday.
A fantastic display of noise, power and aerobatics that made full use of the clear blue skies over the seafront.
Well done to the pilot Simon Hargreaves and all at DS Aviation. 
By: MarkW - 10th July 2011 at 17:25
Yeovilton Air Day
Yesterday’s Yeovilton Air Day was the best for years and Sea Vixen XP924 and her team did not disappoint. In fact it was a magnificent triumph. We were first treated to a low level flypast along the crowd line on the Vixen’s arrival at 10:10. In the afternoon the highlight of the day for many – myself included – was the joint VixenVulcan flypast flowed by a solo aerobatics display as the Vulcan taxied into position by the crowd. See attached.
Quick question. Please can someone confirm the name of the current Vixen display pilot and his experiencebackground? Many thanks.
By: MarkW - 10th July 2011 at 17:25
Yeovilton Air Day
Yesterday’s Yeovilton Air Day was the best for years and Sea Vixen XP924 and her team did not disappoint. In fact it was a magnificent triumph. We were first treated to a low level flypast along the crowd line on the Vixen’s arrival at 10:10. In the afternoon the highlight of the day for many – myself included – was the joint VixenVulcan flypast flowed by a solo aerobatics display as the Vulcan taxied into position by the crowd. See attached.
Quick question. Please can someone confirm the name of the current Vixen display pilot and his experiencebackground? Many thanks.
By: Augsburgeagle - 5th July 2011 at 16:52
Are there any in cockpit videos available? The climb to 45,000 must have been something to watch, strap a gopro (http://gopro.com/) on and you’re laughing!
Matt
By: Hurn - 5th July 2011 at 16:43
Any heads up on a departure day/time for Yeovilton this week please?
Also nice to see the Vixen and Gnat up and about together on Saturday night too. 😎
Saw a Notam for an air display in Lymington around that time and presumed that’s where they were heading?
By: pagen01 - 19th June 2011 at 11:03
😀 excellent! Thanks again to your response to my mundane questioning!:)
By: P-K - 18th June 2011 at 23:08
As unpleasant work stations go they are very close for sure, have sat in both (and B(I).8 which is tight!) but more familiar with the Vixen position, and I can’t say I like it!
After a certain mod. even both the small windows were meant to blacked out, though on XP924 it looks like the frangible hatch and window are completely clear.
it’s not to bad, if I get bored Brian just flipped it over so I could see where we are. I also have GPS 3 and 4 and the second radio, and, the mode S transponder, so there is plenty to do. Most flights are quite short anyway, the longest I have done was with Brian to Austria, 1 hrs 40 mins on one engine to save a bit of fuel. The best flight I have done was also with Brian, down the Danube through the middle of Budapest at 400 ft and 350 knots, we only broke 27 windows in their parliment building.
By: pagen01 - 18th June 2011 at 13:44
As unpleasant work stations go they are very close for sure, have sat in both (and B(I).8 which is tight!) but more familiar with the Vixen position, and I can’t say I like it!
After a certain mod. even both the small windows were meant to blacked out, though on XP924 it looks like the frangible hatch and window are completely clear.
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th June 2011 at 11:25
pagen 01
I think that the worst nav’s position for a post war jet is the Canberra PR9:eek: But tales of that are for another thread:)
CS
By: Hurn - 18th June 2011 at 10:31
That is truly amazing, and testament to her excellent condition and maintenance.
Completely agree and all very positive news. 🙂
After that its Saturday 2 June at 7:00pm.
Intriguing. A display somewhere?
By: pagen01 - 18th June 2011 at 10:31
Brilliant insight to what it is like to fly in the Vixen P-K, and much appreciated that you have posted it here.:)
There seems to be a perception that because it wasn’t a supersonic type in normal operational service that it isn’t capable of the power and speed that it has in the transonic regime. It’s great that it still performs this way (as the DACT training with typhoons proved not long ago) and it must be a joy to be part of.
Do you experience any sense of claustrophobia in the coal hole?
By: Wyvernfan - 18th June 2011 at 08:10
That is truly amazing, and testament to her excellent condition and maintenance. And what a sight that would of been to, a near supersonic Sea Vixen in the 21st century.
I presume you went along with Simon for the test did you P-K.?.. not that i’m jealous or anything :(:D.
Well done guys.
By: P-K - 18th June 2011 at 06:11
Hmmm, a ride in a powerful 1950/60s carrier based fighter, but in the ‘coal hole’!
Am I envious – only just!:)That must be one of the worst ever aircrew stations in a post-war aircraft (and there were many bad ones!), when it comes to working on the section that I have it is with trepidation that I sit in the observors position and close the hatch down!
It would be great to hear about P-Ks experiences in flying in XP924.
Airtest carried out for the CAA, she did well no snags at all, we climbed from 5,000ft to 45,000ft at 92% and .89mach in 7 mins, with no problems, that is the fastest we have done it, all the other parts of the airtest were carried out, the high speed run was at .99mach. And we only used 3 1/2 tons of fuel. her next outing is a runway test with Matt and Brian on Wednesday.out again on Thursday at 2:30 with Simon to Yeovilton, again at 5:30 at Yeovilton, and rtb on Friday am. After that its Saturday 2 June at 7:00pm.
By: pagen01 - 10th June 2011 at 12:19
Hmmm, a ride in a powerful 1950/60s carrier based fighter, but in the ‘coal hole’!
Am I envious – only just!:)
That must be one of the worst ever aircrew stations in a post-war aircraft (and there were many bad ones!), when it comes to working on the section that I have it is with trepidation that I sit in the observors position and close the hatch down!
It would be great to hear about P-Ks experiences in flying in XP924.
By: Hurn - 10th June 2011 at 11:40
Just roared off again a few minutes ago.
I think PK mentioned he’d be on the flight today as they were doing a full airtest. Stuck in the hole no doubt. 😮
Nice pics btw Andy. Must get myself a decent camera soon.
By: Blue_2 - 8th June 2011 at 09:57
ver’ nice! 😎
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May 20, 2011 at 10:09 am