Sea Vixen down

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Discussion

BrettMRC

Original Poster:

4,037 posts

159 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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I think I've just seen the Sea Vixen go in at Yeovilton wheels up....

LimaDelta

6,510 posts

217 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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Oh dear... Nothing on twitter though.

BrettMRC

Original Poster:

4,037 posts

159 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
Confirmed, just gone from home to the crash gate and its down on the runway. Bits and pieces around but doesnt look too badly damaged.

LimaDelta

6,510 posts

217 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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That's a shame, was looking forward to seeing it at the Fly Navy day next Sunday.

Markbarry1977

4,028 posts

102 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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Oh crap, such a shame

BrettMRC

Original Poster:

4,037 posts

159 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
Looks like the aux tanks took the brunt of it, but they didn't last long - resting on airframe when it came to a halt.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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Another incident involving the Sea Vixen, it had a wheels up incident at Bournemouth a few years ago, which put it out of action for some time. It missed a load of shows the other year due to engine damage. The flap issue last year at Eastbourne put an end to it's last season. This will put it out of the air for some considerable time, bearing in mind the time it was out of action for the minor wheels up incident at Bournemouth.

I was commenting on another forum a few months back that it was always broken, sadly it's broken again. Some great plotting though by Simon Hargreaves to get it back in one piece, but considering the issues it's had, is it likely we will ever see it fly again?



BrettMRC

Original Poster:

4,037 posts

159 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
Who knows? There was quite a lot of fundraising over the winter to support the rebuild after the flap issue.

I hope they get her up again - love seeing her flying about, she only did her DA on thursday and was looking good for the season.

Sadly, when you start stripping and rebuilding anything old it usually doesn't go smoothly.

It was a textbook landing though.

MartG

20,626 posts

203 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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Pics by Scott Dabinett

aeropilot

34,302 posts

226 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Top work getting her down in one piece and being able to walk away clap

Sadly, that could be a lot of damage to repair, (on top of what ever caused the hydraulic loss in the first place) and given that he's jettisoned the canopy prior to landing, if they don't have a spare suitably airworthy canopy, then if nothing else, that will mean its flying days are indeed over....which will be a huge shame.

I hope they can get it back in the air...........but I fear that this maybe it.



ChemicalChaos

10,360 posts

159 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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Not again frown

Still, superb crash landing there. I wonder if the canpy might possibly have landed on the grass and survived? (fingers crossed)

kurt535

3,559 posts

116 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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Fair play to the landing - they walked away ok.

Wonder why grass wasn't an option. Perhaps digging in the grass?


anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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kurt535 said:
Fair play to the landing - they walked away ok.

Wonder why grass wasn't an option. Perhaps digging in the grass?
I think that would be the main reason.

Eric Mc

121,787 posts

264 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
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That's a bit sad. Keeping these things flying forever is probably not an option.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
+1

The danger in a belly landing isn't the thump when you hit the ground, it's the potential rapid deceleration afterwards. So a hard surface where you can slide a long way is arguably preferable. At one time it was common to land on foam in these situations, although I think it was to reduce the chance of fire rather than reduce damage.

That kind of damage is repairable in principle, often straightforward if lengthy. But of course the problem with the Vixen is parts availability, it hasn't been in widespread service for nearly 50 years.

hammo19

4,901 posts

195 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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Very sad...beautiful aeroplane.

I presume they will have to pay for damage to the runway as well.

Sylvaforever

2,212 posts

97 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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https://www.seavixen.org/seavixen-technical-docume...

Have a read..

https://www.seavixen.org/images/documents/2.Fuel_S...

Hydraulic systems all 4!

https://www.seavixen.org/images/documents/3.Hydrau...

Was it a selector issue?

Edited by Sylvaforever on Sunday 28th May 13:20

BrettMRC

Original Poster:

4,037 posts

159 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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Nice, typically balanced Daily Mail report.... frown

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4549964/La...

Mezzanine

9,149 posts

218 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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Would this be the same one which has flown over my house a few times this week?

Bedfordshire way...

BrettMRC

Original Poster:

4,037 posts

159 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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It was the only flying example, been to Duxford twice this week - so probably.