The de Havilland Sea Hornet was a navalised version of the Hornet, which incorporated folding wings, fuselage strengthening to allow for the arrested landings and modified landing gear. A total of 79 Sea Hornet F.20s were built.
A night fighter variant incorporated a second cockpit to the rear of the fuselage above the wing trailing edge. The radar operator faced aft under a clear bubble canopy that could be jettisoned in an emergency. The small rotating ASH radar dish was housed under an elongated “thimble” radome in the nose. Production of the Sea Hornet NF.21 came to 72.
The Sea Hornet PR.22 of which 23 were built was a dedicated photo reconnaissance aircraft with the cannon armament removed. Three cameras were installed in the rear fuselage.
De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VV430De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 of No 809 NAS on HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW967 displayed with wings folded at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW957 of 809 Squadron April 1954 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW955 of 809 Sqn based at RNAS Lee on Solentde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW949 of No 809 Squadron takes off from HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 VW967 of the Airwork FRU at St Davids making a flypast at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s of 809 Sqn on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s including VW957 481J of 809 Sqn on Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet F2.0 and NF.21 aircraft of 809 Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable June 1952de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 (in front) and Fairey Fireflies on the flight deck of HMS Vengeance May 1950Crashed de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW960 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 cockpit
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW957 of 809 Squadron April 1954 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s of 809 Sqn on HMS EagleCrashed de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW960 on HMS Eagle
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron, then based at RNAS Ford, landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of 801 squadron ranged on deck HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornets F.20s of 801 Squadron in the upper hanger HMS Implacable
De Havilland Sea Hornet PR.22 landing on HMS Indomitable in 1950de Havilland Sea Hornet takes off from HMS Indomitable June 1952de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VZ715 being armed on board HMS Indomitablede Havilland Sea Hornet F2.0 and NF.21 aircraft of 809 Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable June 1952HMS Indomitable with a Sea Hornet on her flight deck
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 of No 809 NAS on HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 (in front) and Fairey Fireflies on the flight deck of HMS Vengeance May 1950
Naval Air Squadron Operators of the Sea Hornet
Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 VW967 of the Airwork FRU at St Davids making a flypast at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955
728 Fleet Requirements Unit
De Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 728 Fleet Requirements Unit, Hal Far, Maltade Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 at Hal Far Malta 728 Sqn
801 Squadron
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VZ708 of 801 Sqn from Implacable over Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 801 Sqn photographed while based at RNAS Fordde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron, then based at RNAS Ford, landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VR837 of 801 Sqnde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of 801 squadron ranged on deck HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornets F.20s of 801 Squadron in the upper hanger HMS Implacable
806 Squadron
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 806 Naval Air Squadron flying over Niagara Falls. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron flying over Toronto Island. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron, piloted by Lieut Martin, flying over the Peace Bridge, Niagra. International Air Exhibition September 1948
809 Squadron
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW957 of 809 Squadron April 1954 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW949 of No 809 Squadron takes off from HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW955 of 809 Sqn based at RNAS Lee on Solentde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s including VW957 481J of 809 Sqn on Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s of 809 Sqn on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet F2.0 and NF.21 aircraft of 809 Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable June 1952
Sea Hornets at Land Bases
Gibraltar (HMS Rooke)
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s including VW957 481J of 809 Sqn on Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VZ708 of 801 Sqn from Implacable over Gibraltar
Hal Far Malta
De Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 728 Fleet Requirements Unit, Hal Far, MaltaDe Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VR856 based at Hal Far Maltade Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 at Hal Far Malta 728 Sqn
RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine)
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 801 Sqn photographed while based at RNAS Fordde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron, then based at RNAS Ford, landing on HMS Implacable
RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW955 of 809 Sqn based at RNAS Lee on Solent
RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 VW967 of the Airwork FRU at St Davids making a flypast at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW967 displayed with wings folded at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955
Trial Units and Deployments
Winter Trials
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 was sent to Edmonton, Alberta, for winter trials in 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 was sent to Edmonton, Alberta, for winter trials in 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 was sent to Edmonton, Alberta, for winter trials in 1948
International Air Exhibition September 1948
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron, piloted by Lieut Martin, flying over the Peace Bridge, Niagra. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron flying over Toronto Island. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 806 Naval Air Squadron flying over Niagara Falls. International Air Exhibition September 1948
In preparation for the arrival of the de Havilland Sea Venom, the Royal Australian Navy required an aircraft to enable pilots to transition from the Hawker Sea Fury. With de Havilland Australia already producing the Vampire T.33 for the RAAF, the RAN ordered five Sea Vampire T.34 trainers. These were given serials A79-837 to 841 and delivered in 1954.
The RAN Sea Vampires were operated at HMAS Albatross by 723 Squadron. When 723 Squadron was decommissioned, on 25 October 1956, the Vampire trainers transferred to 724 Squadron.
In the second half of 1955 the RAN ordered one more aircraft (A79-842) which was delivered in March 1957. An additional four Sea Vampires T.22s were imported from the United Kingdom in August 1959; all retaining their British serial numbers (XA101, XA167, XA766 and XG770).
During operation with the RAN, four Sea Vampires were lost due to accidents. Three accidents resulted in the deaths of the pilots, while the other resulted in serious injuries. The last recorded Vampire flight took place on 28 September 1970 and the aircraft were replaced by the CAC Aermacchi MB-326H (Macchi) from October 1970. The remaining six Vampires were sold during 1970-72 with most going to aviation museums.
Photos of the de Havilland Sea Vampire operated by the British Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm can be found here.
Designed for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the Bristol Tramp was a British steam-powered passenger and airmail transport triplane aircraft. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company only had limited experience with internal combustion engines, but extensive operating knowledge of steam turbine powerplants. As a result, the Tramp was to be powered by a steam turbine, housed in an engine room in the fuselage, driving propellers on the wings via clutches and driveshafts.
Two prototypes were completed in 1921, but the clutches gave continual trouble and neither ever flew. They were utilised as ground test rigs for several years before being broken up.