AdBlock Detected

It looks like you're using an ad-blocker!

Our team work realy hard to produce quality content on this website and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled.

de Havilland Sea Hornet

De Havilland Sea Hornet PR.22 VW930

de Havilland Sea Hornet

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.

Variants

Aircraft Carriers

Naval Air Squadrons

Land Bases

Other Operators

Trial Units and Deployments

Variants of the Sea Hornet

de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20

de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21

de Havilland Sea Hornet PR.22

Sea Hornet Operations From Aircraft Carriers

HMS Eagle

HMS Implacable

HMS Indomitable

HMS Ocean

HMS Vengeance

Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit

728 Fleet Requirements Unit

801 Squadron

806 Squadron

809 Squadron

Sea Hornets at Land Bases

Gibraltar (HMS Rooke)

Hal Far Malta

RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine)

RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)

RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)

Trial Units and Deployments

Winter Trials

International Air Exhibition September 1948

Other Operators

Australian Service

de Havilland Sea Vampire in Australian Service

de Havilland Sea Vampire T.22 A79-840

de Havilland Sea Vampire in Australian Service

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.

Bristol 37 Tramp

Bristol 37 Tramp

Bristol 37 Tramp

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.