Sea Vixen... The most beautiful aircraft i have ever seen

[ntl_marc]

 But one question... what is the second cockpit canopy supose to be as it seems to be flat on the picture on the link below...can anyone help to cast a light on this please

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=320850

[kempie]

Since this aircraft was designated a fighter/bomber I presume the second canopy is where the bomb aimer was positioned (and I presume he looked down more than he looked forward).

[ntl_marc]

wow lol must of been a bit cramped lol, i suppose he had to lie down eh? on his front probably? was there a window in the bottom of the aircraft too then?

Btw when was the aircraft in service?

[kempie]

More photos

[sddsddean]

Read the bit after the line drawing on this page (3rd illustration down) http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/postww2_mil/de%20Havilland%20Sea%20Vixen.htm

[ntl_marc]

Yeah just read up on it... tthe second cockpit was for an observer...Thanks kempie!!

[KebabMeister]

I've been in both the positions of the Sea Vixen.  The observer position is more like the navigator position with radar.  Whther it was designed like this to give a better view of the radar I don't know.  There is a gap between both seats so you can actually see it eachother from their respective seats.  Very claustrophobic I might add!

[landie]

They were still producing Sea Vixens Vampires and Venoms when I first went to work at Hawker Siddely, Chester ( Once De Havilland and now Airbus) in 1964. I think production of those marques finished about 1968.