Don't Miss Any Special Deals - Sign Up To Our Newsletter! Aircraft Search Squadron Search Signature Search Artist Search SPECIAL OFFERS Product Search
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF ALL GERALD COULSON PRINTS BY TITLE

Sea Vixen Manufacturer : De Havilland Number Built : Production Began : 1951 Retired : Type : The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was a twin boom, two seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm during the 1950s–1960s, originally known as the DH.110, an aircraft designed for both the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm (FAA). The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was designed as an all-weather, missile-armed, high-speed jet fighter. The Royal navy required a fighter to replace the aging De Havilland Sea Venom and the Fleet Air Arm took the Sea Vixen, but the Royal Air Force did not, instead opting for its competitor the Gloster Javelin. The first De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen prototype first flew on 26 September 1951 piloted by WW2 ace John Cunningham. In 1952 tragedy struck while the aircraft was being demonstrated at the Farnborough Airshow on 6th September 1952. Following a display by a Sea Vixen on its ability to break the sound barrier, it disintegrated, killing 31 people, including the aircraft's two crew: test pilot and record breaker John Derry and Tony Richards. Crew: Two, Length: 55 ft 7 in (16.94 m) Wingspan 51 ft 0 in (15.54 m) Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) Empty weight: 27,950 lb (12,680 kg) Loaded weight: 41,575 lb (18,860 kg) Maximum takeoff weight 46,750 lb (21,205 kg) Powerplant: 2×Rolls Royce Avon Engines Mk.208 Maximum speed Mach 0.91 (690 mph, 1,110 km/h) at sea level Range 790 mi (1,270 km) with internal fuel Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (15,000 m) Rate of Climb: 9,000 ft/min (46 m/s) Armament: Rockets: 4 × Matra rocket pods with 18 × SNEB 68 mm rockets each Missiles: 4 × Red Top or Firestreak missiles Bombs: 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs.

Sea Vixen

Sea Vixen Artwork Collection

Moment of Truth by Robert Tomlin.

Signatures for : Sea Vixen
A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Chris Capper Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Chris Capper	Chris Capper Chris Capper served in the Royal Air Force from 1941 until 1952. During this time he became a flying instructor and later flew the Mosquito in squadron service. He joined the Empire Test Pilots School in 1948 then served three years at Aero Flight Farnborough where he made 51 flights with the DH108 Swallow. He joined de Havilland in 1953 and was involved in development testing of the 2nd prototype D11110 from Hatfield. Moving to Christchurch/Hum he then flew over 500 sorties on development and testing of the DH 11 0/Sea Vixen and personally flew 88 of the 150 odd aircraft produced. He subsequently took charge of development and testing of the DH125 making the first flight in 1962, finally retiring in 1982
Lieutenant Commander J E Eatwell RN Click the name above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Commander J E Eatwell RN	Lieutenant Commander J E Eatwell RN Joined the Royal Navy as an Air Cadet in 1956 and went straight to sea in HMS Theseus, part of the Home Fleet Training Squadron. He commenced Observer training in September 1956 flying Sea Prince, Firefly, Gannet, Brigand and Sea Venom aircraft, before embarking with 894 Sea Venom Squadron in HMS Eagle in 1958. He received training at De Havilland for the Sea Vixen and embarked on HMS Ark Royal with 892 Squadron, the first Sea Vixen Squadron in 1960, transferring to HMS Victorious for a deployment to the Far East. After a tour with 899 Headquarters Squadron, he transferred to the Buccaneer S Mk 1 in 1963 and then received training as a Photographic Interpreter (PI) prior to joining 800 squadron in HMS Eagle as a Photo Recce Specialist. This was followed by a tour instructing in 736 Squadron before rejoining 800 Squadron with the Mk 2 Buccaneer for another embarked tour in HMS Eagle covering the withdrawal from Aden. Further appointments at Lossiemouth as Station Intelligence Officer and P I to Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers, Operations Staff in HMS Eagle and as a Trials Officer at RAE Farnborough followed. His final four years were spent at the Joint School of Photographic Interpretation, responsible for the selection and training of all RN. WRNS and RNR PIs. He retired from the RN in 1976 but remained active as a PI and Intelligence Officer in the RNR, finally retiring in 1993.
Commander T J H Gedge AFC Click the name above to see prints signed by Commander T J H Gedge AFC	Commander T J H Gedge AFC Commander T J H Gedge AFC Royal Navy started flying in Glasgow University Air Squadron and joined the Royal Navy in January 1963 as a short career fighter pilot, later transferring to a full career commission. He flew Sea Vixen all weather fighter aircraft from HMS Victorious and F-4 Phantom aircraft from HMS Ark Royal before commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron, the first front-line Sea Harrier squadron in HMS Invincible and later in HMS Hermes. He formed and commanded 809 Squadron Sea Harriers for Operation Corporate for relief of the Falkland Islands in 1982, initially flying from MV Atlantic Conveyor. Qualified as a Flying Instructor (QFI) and later as an air warfare instructor (AWI) he served at Yeovilton, Lossiemouth and Leuchars in second-line flying appointments. He was the last Senior Pilot (SP) of the Royal Naval Air Warfare School 764 Squadron and later SP of the RN Phantom Training Flight at RAF Leuchars followed by SP of the front line Phantoms, 892 Squadron. Other appointments included HMS Jupiter, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as Aviation Officer and 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Staff trained at Greenwich he also completed the RAF Air Warfare Course at RAF Cranwell and the RN Force Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Course at HMS Dryad. Since the Falklands War, Tim Gedge served in the MOD in the Directorate of Naval Air Warfare and later in the Directorate of Operational Requirements (Sea Systems) on the British Naval Staff in Washington and as Staff Aviation Officer to the Flag Officer Flotilla Three (the seagoing NATO Commander ASW Striking Force). His active service career completed in the MOD Central Staffs and he retired in 1996.
John Wilson Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by John Wilson	John Wilson John Wilson served in the RAF from 1942 to 1948 when he left the Central Fighter Establishment to join the de Havilland Aircraft Co at Hatfield as Experimental Test Pilot. In 1949, with John Cunningham, he made the first flight of the prototype Comet 1 and the following year the first flight of the Vampire trainer prototype. After the death of John Derry at Farnborough in 1952 in the prototype DH 110, he took charge of the flight development of the Sea Vixen as a front line all weather fighter for the Royal Navy. In 1959 he transferred to the DH design department as Chief Operations Engineer where he was responsible for the development of the automatic blind landing system for the Trident airliner and Trident, DH 125, DH 146 flight decks.
Captain John de Winton RN Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain John de Winton RN	Captain John de Winton RN Joined the Royal navy as a seaman officer. He qualified as a fighter pilot in 1955 after flying training with US Navy. Served in Sea Venom Night and all Weather Fighters based at Yeovilton 1956 to 1960. 809 Squadron HMS Albion (Suez) 56/57. Qualified as flying instructor 1958. QFI NAWF School 766 Squadron 58/60. Sea Vixens Squadrons based at Yeovilton 60/61. 893 Squadron HMS Ark Royal. Senior pilot 893 Squadron HMS Centaur. In 1962 he transferred to Lossiemouth, initially to Buccaneer Mk1 Intensive Flying Trials Unit, then as Senior Pilot 801 Squadron, first front line Buccaneer squadron, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Victorious in the Far East. He was CO of 809 Squadron Trials and Training Squadron Lossiemouth in 1964. In 1965 he became CO 801 Squadron HMS Victorious, Far East, then after disbanding Mk 1 Squadron, CO 0f 801 Squadron again, first Mk 2 Buccaneer Squadron. He was promoted to Commander at the end of 1965. He commanded HMS Puma, frigate from 1967-1969, then London (MOD) i/c of all Fleet Air Arm officer appointments. Promoted to Captain in 1971. Staff of CinC Fleet 1971-73. Commanded HMS Leander and Captain 3rd Frigate squadron from 1974-75. Director of Naval Air Warfare (MOD) from 1975-78. He retired in 1980. Served in Sultan of Oman’s Navy as Chief of Staff from 1982-88. He is married with four children, six grandchildren and lives in Somerset. He keeps busy with many jobs in his large garden, playing golf and croquet.