History

The Hawker Siddeley Sea Vixen was a heavy all-weather interceptor flown by the Royal Navy from 1959 to 1972. Its long development period meant it was virtually obsolete by the time it entered service.

The Sea Vixen began as the deHavilland DH110 twin seat all-weather fighter.

Design started in 1946 and the prototype made its first flight on 25 September 1951.

After a fatal crash at an air show in 1952 it was extensively redesigned for use by the Royal Navy as an all-weather interceptor which made its first flight July 1954.

The first fully navalized version first flew on 2 July 1959 and the first Sea Vixen squadron was formed in July 1959.

The improved FAW.2 version first flew in 1962 and continued in service until 1972 when it was replaced by the McDonnell Phantom.

This model represents XJ580 of 892 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, flying from HMS Eagle in 1972.

Frog 1:72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in March 1998.

Data

MODEL: Hawker Siddeley Sea Vixen FAW.2 (XJ580, 892 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1972)

ROLE: two seat all-weather fighter

TIME PERIOD: 1959-1972

ENGINES: two Rolls Royce Avon Mk.208 turbojets engines of 50kN each

WING SPAN: 15.54m

LENGTH: 16.94m

MAXIMUM TAKE OFF WEIGHT: 21,203kg

MAXIMUM SPEED: 1,110k/hr

CREW: 2

ARMAMENT: four Red Top or Firestreak air-to-air missiles or four Matra rocket pods or two 227kg bombs

SCALE: 1/72

KIT:

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