Sea Vixen | Mick's Muses's

Sea-Vixen pilot performs perfect Belly-Landing

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Mick's Muses

One does occasionally see interesting events living next to the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton (RNAS Yeovilton). One such recent occasion was when the hydraulic landing gear system o the only flying Sea-Vixen apparently failed when it was returning to the base. As the video shows, the pilot, Cdr Simon Hardgreaves performed a perfect wheels-up landing.

The Sea-Vixen which is based at RNAS Yeovilton as part of their historic flight was due to perform at Yeovilton’s renowned forthcoming International Air Day. But the question on everyone’s lips at the moment is how badly was the aircraft damaged and will it ever fly again? I do hope so as this was such a iconic aircraft that once represented a significant partof the UK’s military air power.

The aircraft remained on the runway where it landed directly opposite my home until recovery teams were in a position to move it. That did give me the opportunity to taken a number of pictures of the recovery exercise.

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Yeovilton Air Show 2011

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Mick's Muses

The Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton adjoining our property once again staged its spectacular annual air show on 9th July. Participant aircraft and their pilots from around the world enthralled spectators with flying displays made perfect by flying skills honed to a peak. The air show always gives us the opportunity to invite friends to our home to watch the display from part of our garden and enjoy a long leisurely barbecue throughout the day.

The ever popular RAF Red Arrows display team gave a dazzling performance that lasted nearly 20 minutes and never fails to impress everyone that watches them.

The last flying Vulcan Bomber accompanied by a Sea Vixen gave a display of both grace and power. Although the Vulcan is now a historic but awesome weapon of war, it still remains a crowd-puller at air shows. The Vulcan is now owned by a private trust but cost of maintaining this mighty beast is however high. Public donations can be made at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/

Being a naval air base, the grand finale gives the navy the opportunity to display their unique mixture of sea, land and air skills. A set piece of Marines attacking an “enemy” stronghold using massed helicopters to provide transport for both troops, artillery and transport is always a favourite. Air cover for the marines was provided by conventional land based aircraft. Until last year this was provided by Sea Harriers but a short-sighted purely monetary based policy by an insipid coalition government has now left the seriously UK denuded of both aircraft carriers and sea based air cover. As an individual, I suspect most people would prefer our defence capability to be based on a well-trained and well equipped military with real kit rather than the sabre rattling, parliamentary gas-bag variety.

The number of participants was to great to mention them all but I have added below a selection of photographs I took of the show. Click on a picture for a larger image.