De Havilland Sea Vixen

[jcf]

Now the latter is something Evan mentioned for the F11F but I never realised it was a real proposal, it'd make much more sense than the J79 in the F11F-1F, the Avons smaller size would have meant less redesign.

Uhh, the 200 series Avons and the J79 are basically similar in size, the J79 actually having the smaller diameter.
Comparing lengths and weights can cause misunderstanding as the Avon lengths/weights are without afterburner,
the afterburner was a separate assembly, and the J79 overall length/weight includes its integral afterburner.

Jon

[Mossie]

Ah right, that changes things a little for another thread!

[Daryl J.]

The J79 could theoretically fit in a Sea Vixen??     



Daryl J.

[GTX]

Did someone mention a Sea Vixen-Tomcat Hybrid a while back:



regards,

Greg

[dy031101]

I've always kinda found the offset canopy for the pilot not as visually-pleasing as tandem canopy on the centreline......

Also to go with the "Invincible with catapults and angled-deck" idea that's been floating in my head lately, would the Sea Vixen be able to take a Skyflash-capable radar and remain deployable from something like, say, a Centaur class carrier or its logical continuations?

[Daryl J.]

I bet there is more than just one person glad the Airfix 1/48 kit is going to now a regular production item.   

[Rolead]

Now that the Airfix kit has been released and selling very well if the RAF used it would it need an internal gun or pure AAMs? And would there have to be any other changes

TIA
Robert

[pyro-manic]

The DH.110 design included guns, but on the production Sea Vixen they were replaced with microcell rocket packs. Shouldn't be too hard to switch them around again.

[rickshaw]

In the back of my mind there is a picture of a Vixen with a slanting tailplane - something about concerns about a straight tailplane versus supersonic performance.  In the end they instead went with a very thin tailplane and we get the shape we are all familiar with.  Is my memory correct?  Does anybody have a picture of the proposed slanting tailplane?

[Mossie]

There was a V shaped swept horizontal tail proposed early on.  I can't find any pics at the mo, I'll see if I can dig something out.

[Mossie]

Found the pic in BSP Fighters, can't post it due to copyright.  It dates from 1947, quite early in the development of the DH.110.  The DH.110 at this stage has a side by side canopy similar to the mosquito & vertical tails similar to the Venom.  The horizontal tail is in the shape of an inverted V & it's leading & trailing edge sweep matches that of the wing.

I've found something on Secret Projects that's very interesting, I'll try & post it tonight.

[Mossie]

As promised, Spey engined Sea Vixen found on Secret Projects.  Offered at the time the FAW.2 was being touted, it offered considerable improvement in range & endurance.  The only major external change was a supplementary intake for the extra airflow required, this was from the original due to a spar being in this location.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3278.0/highlight,sea+vixen+spey.html

[Mossie]

Similar variant but with reheat, this required more substantial changes to the rear fuselage.  Might have been a good option to go with the proposed supersonic wings.

[pyro-manic]

Interesting, thanks! I'm planning an advanced Sea Vixen, and this will be useful.

[GTX]

Interesting.

Anyone for some whatif profiles of the Sea Vixen in other services (come on, help me find a reason to buy one or more of the new Airfix 1/48th kit)?  I am thinking the following for starters:

West German
Indian Navy
French Navy
Italian Navy

Regards,

Greg