26 September (1951)
de Havilland Sea Vixen WG326 makes it's first flight.
Fitted with Rolls-Royce Avon 208 turbojets, the prototype (WG326) flew for the first time at Hatfield on 26th September 1951, piloted by John ‘Cats Eyes’ Cunningham. Early test flights exceeded expectations in both speed and performance, taking it well in excess of the speed of sound.
After the successful carrier trials, the the Fleet Air Arm decided to adopt the De Havilland DH110 Sea Vixen to replace its Sea Venoms. It decidedly placed an order for 110 ‘Navalised aircraft’ which was subsequently renamed the De Havilland DH110 Sea Vixen FAW.
In June 1955, a semi-navalised De Havilland DH110 Sea Vixen FAW Mk20X prototype (XF828) completed carrier flight deck suitability trials, which included catapult launches and arrester hook landings, although the powered folding wings capability was not incorporated until April 1956.
