Thunder & Lightnings

de Havilland Sea Vixen - Survivor XJ476

FAW.1 XJ476 - Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Old Sarum Airfield, Wiltshire

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Sea Vixen FAW.1 XJ476 at Old Sarum, 19th August 2018; Damien Burke

First flown on 4th November 1957, XJ476 spent most of her career as a trials aircraft, clearing the Red Top and Martel missiles into service among other jobs. She had a landing accident at Boscombe Down in September 1973, with harsh braking causing both mainwheel tyres to burst and damage the wings. The decision was taken not to repair her and she was stripped for spares and relegated to the Boscombe fire section. Eventually the nose was removed and given to No.424 ATC Sqn, Southampton who displayed it at the Solent Sky museum. She is now on loan to BDAC at Old Sarum. Formerly used as a sit-in exhibit, she has had a few instruments removed and some of the perspex from the canopy was gone too but otherwise is in very good condition considering the amount of [ab]use she's had over the years. Ex-RAF man overheard talking to his wife about the Sea Vixen - 'You can tell it's a naval aircraft, it looks a shambles. All naval aircraft do!'.

Information on this page current as of 14/06/2020, last updated by Damien

Find other photos of XJ476 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net