Pilot Officer Prune Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 In 1946, the Air Ministry and the Admiralty issued the specifications F.44/46 and N.40/46 for a twin-engined, two-seat long range fighter.De Havilland responded with their de Havilland 110, and Gloster with their GA.5. The RAF expressed an interest in the de Havilland project, and a number of prototypes were ordered. The Navy rejected both proposals, and opted for an enhanced Sea Venom. Gloster lobbied successfully, and prototypes of their tailed delta design were also ordered, even though the de Havilland design seemed more promising. By 1951, the dH 110 was well into its test programme, regularly flying supersonically, while the GA.5 (Javelin) was plagued by flutter and other aerodynamic problems. Then, at the Farnborough Air Show on 6th September 1952, the dH 110 prototype WG236 broke up in transonic flight, with the engines and forward fuselage ploughing into the crowd, killing the crew and 29 spectators, and severely injuring more than 60 others. The RAF switched its attentions to the Javelin, and four years later, the Navy accepted a navalised dH 110 as the Sea Vixen. But what if . . . If John Derry had flown his display without incident, the Air Ministry’s choice may well have alighted on the de Havilland design. It was aerodynamically superior to the Javelin, which was thick-winged and draggy, with inadequate pitch control and engines buried so deeply in the fuselage that power losses in the intakes and exhausts emasculated them. The Vixen, on the other hand, was aerodynamically cleaner, with a relatively thin wing, and offered potential advantages in range, speed and acceleration. It was also cleared for use of the Firestreak and Red Top Missile much earlier than was the Javelin.If the RAF had gone with the Vixen, by 1970 they might have ended up with this: de Havilland Vixen F(AW).5, 11 Sqn, RAF, Geilenkirchen, 1970. Enjoy! Ian 38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 That's very cool! Extremely plausible too! Nice work! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzulscha Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Nice! Can't say as I've ever seen anything quite like it. (I like your user tag as well!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Look at what they could have had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 That looks really very nice & in 11 sqn colours too, you've just about made me want to do one. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 It could have possibly happened as your story suggests,the Vixen looks really cool in RAF colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 H*ll yes !! Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Excellent finish,the Vixen really does look at home in RAF colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billydick Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Beautiful ..... BillyD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Nice one. It looks even more of a beast in camouflage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echen Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Beautiful model, very informative account of what might have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Alternative history comes alive. Lovely work! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIGHTS ON Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 (edited) different .......but actually well done, thanks for sharing. In conversation with a Vixen "looker" a couple of years ago, he blamed his life in the "coal hole" on the de Havilland team in the original design stages still flushed with success from that side by side set up from the mossie, he reckons a decent hood built around the tube would have sufficed - with your "what if" , I wonder if the crabs would have re-designed the cockpit to look more like the Javelin?? actually, looking again, that really is a smart build you have there... Edited September 16, 2016 by FIGHTS ON spelling, and examining my moral compass having complemented a RAF build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheStig Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Absolutely love it in this scheme! Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 Very nicely done. And a good back story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry V Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 Well, if the German armour modellers can have their 'pie in the sky' projects then why not this? Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveH Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Very nice, right Squadron too.... cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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