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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 2331.PDF
652 FLIGHT 23 November 1951 A close-up action study of the Sea Venom prototype an in- stant after the arrester hook has engaged a wire. Note the "fences" on the wing. s SEA VENOM TRIALS The de Havilland Carrier-borne, Two-seater, Radar-equipped, Night- Fighter is Tested Aboard H.M.S. "Illustrious" THE accompanying pictures of the prototype deHavilland Sea Venom N.F.20 undergoing deck-landing trials aboard H.M.S. Illustrious in the English Channel during July (the photographs have only recently been released) will remind readers that it was a Sea Vampire which, on December 3rd, 1945, became the first jet aircraft to land aboard an aircraft carrier. The Sea Venom has been adopted as standard equip- ment not only by the Royal Navy, but by the Royal Austra- lian Navy and the French Navy, and represents a very real advance over the Sea Vampire in all aspects of perform- ance. Its first carrier take-off was on the bright morning of July 9th with Lt. Cdr. D. Callingham, D.S.C., R.N., as pilot. Within three days, 60 take-offs and landings had been made by Lt. Cdr. Callingham and Lts. Price and Robertson. The greatest number of take-offs—34—was recorded on the second day, July 10th. Throughout the trial period there was no incident of any An approach shot, showing to advantage the extended arrester hook, the large-area flaps and the wide-track, nose-wheel undercarriage. kind, and the aircraft frequently became airborne after running for only two-thirds of the flight deck. All pilots remarked on the excellent view of the flight deck and the batsman obtainable during the approach. On the fourth day a demonstration was laid on for C.-in-C, Coastal Command, before the aircraft returned to Boscombe Down for further tests. The Sea Venom N.F.20, which is armed with four 20 mm guns, is the fourth jet-propelled fighter adopted for service with Naval Aviation. First was the Sea Vampire, to which reference is made above; then followed the Vickers- Supermarine Attacker, the first squadron of which has recently formed; and third, the Hawker Sea Hawk, now well advanced in production. All three of these types are single-seaters, and may be considered as successors to the piston-engined Sea Fury, whereas the two-seater Sea Venom will displace the night fighter version of the de Havilland Sea Hornet. Apparently "going round again," the new night-and-all-weather fighter takes full advantage af the accelerating qualities of the Ghost turbojet.
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