DH Sea Vixen

ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE CLASSIC JETS, even nearly seven decades after the type entered service, surely is the DH Sea Vixen “Foxy Lady” XP924 (civil registration G-CVIX).

- TEXT & PHOTOS BY LUIGINO CALIARO

The Sea Vixen today is owned by Navy Wings, a United Kingdom nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preserving and flying historic aircraft.

The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was a two-seat jet fighter originally designed to be an aircraft for both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Fleet Air Arm functioning as an all-weather, missile-armed, high-speed jet fighter. Although the RAF selected the Gloster Javelin, the Royal Navy subsequently placed an order for 145 aircraft.

The first production Sea Vixen flew in 1957 and officially entered in service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1959, with the designation of Sea Vixen FAW.1. A unique feature of the design is that the pilot's canopy is offset to the left side, while the other crew member was housed to the right completely within the fuselage with only a small window illuminating his work space. He gained access to his position through a flush-fitting top hatch.