Wyvern
Shown again for the benefit of new members is the projects cockpit canopy which is one of only two that i know of. The other on the right (photo Grimreaper) is at the Robertsbridge Aviation Society & Museum in Sussex, interestingly enough in the same county that mine was found in.
The very early pre-production canopies had a nasty tendency to collapse or implode in flight, and it was during one such incident that test pilot Nick Goodhart, who later went on to invent the mirror deck landing system for aircraft carriers before becoming a rear admiral, was almost decapitated and killed by one of these six feet long canopies detaching in flight and striking his head. He eventually managed to regain control of the aircraft and land safely.
Production S.4 canopies were strengthened with a more substantial base and strips of a white material bonded to the inside of the canopy together with thicker bands of perspex to help improve rigidity (as pictured), and it was with this type that the Wyvern entered FAA service in 1953. These were subsequently replaced with an improved all metal framed version fitted with a one piece perspex moulding during the types upgrade in 1956 that was also specifically designed so that straight through ejections were possible, (there are also examples of straight through ejections taking place with the earlier type, but i don’t think it was designed with this in mind).
Does anyone know of any other Wyvern canopies that have survived, especially of the later type with the metal frame and rear fairing?
Rob
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