DeHavEngi would rather not see her in the D3 Drone colours again because that reminds me of my only bad memory of her at Biggin in 2001.
We never liked her Drone colours, however authentic they might be. There were large areas that looked asthough they’d been painted on with a trowel and it just didn’t suit her. We’ve tried HARD to forget that incident hawk. Although, inevitably it does pop-up in conversation. It is the predominate reason she hasn’t been present at Biggin until last year and even then it was under a great deal of protest from some.
Well today was the big day….first thing this morning the last airworthy Sea Vixen took a walk from De Havillands Hanger over to Airtime Paintshop to be shorn of her Red Bull Locks and a fresh RN wig applied….the clock is now ticking!!
DeHavEngother than the station commander at coningsby was madder than hell sorry no I don’t believe I can I’m affraid:D
DeHavEngEASA – European Aviation Safety Agency. A European level CAA set up to dictate common regulatory practices.
Trying to make sense out of their website for updates and proposed changes seems to be beyond the means of most men 🙁
trying to make sense of anything they say is beyond the means of most men robin…..just like anything else eu related
DeHavEngHas a date been fixed for this opportunity. If not, what chance is there of being notified in advance to be either there, or at Yeovilton when she arrives?
No date has been set yet Rob, but i will endever to notify people when the opportunity does arrive. Our primary limiting factor as to her departure is as always the great British weather. It is likely that she will depart at a moments notice should the weather be good.:)
DeHavEngWhy the need for drop tanks to be fitted and working if she’s going
be mothballed. or is there a 2nd option that requires long range flight.????
preparation, perparation, preparation……although we have the pylons plumbed in and the tanks assembled (god that’s a job I don’t want to do again), we (as yet) don’t have permission to fit them. Should we find a sponser the tanks will allow us a greater range which we can exploit in various ways, fewer stop overs for fuel, more airshows (i.e. with tanks she can reach the U.S. with ease), less chance of being ripped off with the price of Jet A-1…….etc, etc, etc. Generally they would make life easier for us.
DeHavEngWhat sort of money are we talking about insurance wise?
Also the last time I was down at Bournemouth (2004) talking to one of the engineers who looks after XP924, I was told that the Red Bull sponsorship didn’t actually amount to a huge amount of money. Is/was that correct or perhaps did sponsorship increase over the last couple of years?
You’re right nick it didn’t amount to a huge amount, but the vast majority of it, as I’m led to believe, was the cost of the insurance which as a ball park figure was £89k premium…I believe this year it’s pushing the £100k mark. All because of the same EARSA regulation that almost grounded sally-b last year that puts both aircraft in the same catagory as a 737 and they have to carry passenger and baggage insurance! How we can fit a passenger and hand luggage in to XP924 is beyond us, never mind a suitcase.
DeHavEngWonderful picture Adrian/Albert.
Any more you would care to share or all you just teasing us?!!!
All the best
NickBTW folks I see that XP924 is booked for CU on the 01/08 – a bit premature or can we read more into this???
You’ve got me there Nick! I know we’ve had booking requests but as far as I know I think they’ve been put on hold until a sponser is found……how about everyone chip in £10 for the insurance fund:dev2:
DeHavEngBe a bit silly to paint her up then fly her into storage… at the very least that could be made an event which many photographers would no doubt want to turn up for, and pay a reasonable entrance fee for too – especially if you put them on the right side of the airfield for the light (i.e. not the museum side at Yeovilton!).
As I am given to understand Damien, she will be unveilled for a gathering of press, anoraks and public etc. Before the end of march she will be flown out inorder to create space as she is just so damm big and there are other projects that require the space. She has to be flown out by the end of march as the insurance paid for by Red Bull runs out at that date, and apparently there is no way in hell she will be left out in the elements, with space being such a premium it seems the most sensible option. But without sponsership where she flies to, will be where she stays, until someone comes up with the cash to pay the insurance.
DeHavEngLast Chance
These are likely to be the last pictures you see of XP924 in her Red Bull colours. Taken today after much prep to have her ready for her trip across the airfield to Airtime Paintshop on monday morning. Those of you expecting to see her in her 899 sqdn colours when she’s rolled out will be thwarted I’m affraid! The owners, quite understandably, are having her wrapped up until such time as the company is ready to reveal her to her adoring public 😀 . Christmas come early I know! But there is a sting in the tail……UNLESS a sponser is found within the next 3 weeks XP924 will depart to RNAS Yeovilton to be put into care and maintenance storage for the forseeable future. Now that is something I probably shouldn’t have let slip, but in the interest of generating some support to keep the Old Girl flying I’ll willingly take the flogging with the cat ‘o’ nine tails that I will surely get:(
DeHavEngA list, corrected to 20/8/06, is as follows of UK survivors.
Prince:
G-AMLZ – Caernarfon Airworld Museum, Caernarfon – DisplayPembroke:
WV746 – RAF Museum, Cosford – Display
XK885 – Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood – Display
XL929 – Air Atlantique Classic Flight, Coventry – Stored off-site
XL954 – Air Atlantique Classic Flight, Coventry – AirworthySea Prince:
WF118 – Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood – Display
WF122 – AeroVenture, Doncaster – Display
WF128 – Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton – Display
WF137 – Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society, Lasham – Display
WP308 – Gatwick Aviation Museum, Charlwood – Display
WP313 – Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton – Stored
WP314 – Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle – Display
N7SY – Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Bournemouth Airport – Display
whoops you forgot pembroke C1 G-BNPH currently of De Havilland Aviation, B.A.M. Bournemouth international:diablo:
DeHavEngAs JDK always says, it depends on the source and accuracy of the information put in books. Putnams DH since and British Naval Aircraft since say 700mph at sea level and M 0.95 at altitude. One also says 645mph/640mph at altitude for F.A.W.1 and 2 respectively. I suspect I’ve got other books around with different figures again.
My understanding was that it was not supersonic in level flight. Anybody know a retired Sea Vixen driver?
Ok Ok to clear up the confusion, the ordinary standard Sea vixen, which I must add G-CVIX XP924 is NOT, was never supersonic unless in a dive. However, XP924 is the ONLY supersonic aircraft on the european register, why? well read on! As a D.3 conversion she has uprated Avon 208’s and significant alterations to her flying controls i.e. the mechnical clunky bits are now all wiggly string, with the exception of the actuators. As a result she’s lighter on her feet. But folks it get’s better, as a civlianised D.3 she has had all non-essential and military fit removed i.e. the near 1 ton of radar in that lovely nose. Therefore at 20,000ft she is capable of Mach 1.23 and she can operate at 50,000ft with a rate of climb that even the Typhoons cann’t beat…..as we at De Hav well know;)
DeHavEngYou might want to try Barry Parkhouse. he does all of B.A.M’s heavy haulage and is normally willing to negotiate on price in exchange for unwanted parts etc.
DeHavEngFound a color shot of XP924. No date. (But appears the same as in the 1982 black & white shot, above..) Possible location, (but cannot make out handwriting on the back of the photo?)
would appear to be RNAS Yeovilton possibly. Main clues being the tanker and Taxiways
DeHavEngHave you managed to secure a couple of Pylons for the task now? The reason I ask is because this gave Myself, Dave Thomas of Phoenix Aviation and PK, a***ache for two years trying to find a decent pair.
Yes we managed to beg and scrape a pair of heavy stores pylons off of XJ580 at Tangmere. They are currently fitted to the grand old girl to test all the electrical connections, we are however less spares for the fuel transfer lines and pressure air connections as the ones fitted to the pylons were beyond hope. Albert whether she stays in her RN colours who knows, it would be very nice but if a sponser wants to paint her fucia pink with flowers I doubt we’ll argue if they pay the bills, and they are BIIIIIIIIG bills!
DeHavEngAs a memeber of De HAvillands Engineering team I’m not sure exactly what I can let slip here if anything 1) because I have an overwhelming desire to keep my job & 2) me being a lowly spanner wielder I’m not privvy to the higher echelons. Yes XP924 (G-CVIX) will be repainted in her 899sqn colours, the work will be carried out by Airtime Paintshop some-time in late feb 2007. Currently I don’t believe there is a new sponser on the horizon, however, as previously stated I am just a lowly spanner wielder and not privvy to such info. In regards to the external fuel tanks, negotiations are ongoing.
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