Sea Vixen

Lets go back in time to 1951 a year where the world was still recovering from world war, Winston Churchill was still in power in the UK and the biggest dog fight in history at the time took place, as 27 U.S. and Australian jet fighters tangle with nearly 150 Russian-built MIG-15 jets over Northwest Korea. At the movies John Wayne was thrilling audiences with his Flying Leathernecks and fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club were cheering their side on to win the 1st Division Championship.

As for aviators all eyes were firmly focused to the skies as the first flight of a new British De Havilland aircraft was about to take place. Aviation was moving at speeds as fast as the actual speeds the aircraft could fly, we had come so far in terms of technology throughout the previous 50 years; the dawn of the new jet age was here and now.

It was time for the Sea Vixen...

I'm all ready to go my flight suit fitted and as I step out of the briefing room onto the carrier runway, in front of me stands a beast with its wings folded like a bird of prey ready to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. The walk seems to take forever as the excitement builds, for this will be my opportunity to fly the Sea Vixen.

The Sea Vixen has been created by Skysim, a new developer to the flight simulation market place. Many hours of painstaking work has gone into the finished article. Brian Franklin designed the 3d and visual model, Jim Cooper gave his expertise to creating the cockpit and gauges. Andy Nott was responsible for the textures, and Gordon White researched the aircraft.

The story of my flight begins as always with a look around the aircraft externally, it’s more than just a kick of the tyres! The aircraft is powered by two Avon Mk 208 engines both capable of delivering 22,500lb of thrust at sea level. A single gearbox is mounted between the engines along with four hydraulic pumps and two generators. The aircraft is split into two sections, one is where I will be sitting and the other area is for an observer, this seating arrangement looks quite strange as the observer seat is some way below the level of the pilot. To gain access, special ladders are used as were supplied as ground equipment.

All the flying surfaces on the aircraft are power operated by using hydraulic pumps; there was no way of flying this thing manually! However, an Mk17 autopilot is included.

I'm at the base of the plane now and ready to board, once in the cockpit and safely strapped in it is now time to do our pre flight checks. A dazzling array of dials and switches confronts you and the whole thing at the time must have seemed light years ahead of what many pilots had been used to seeing. You are enclosed in a tight fit cockpit with controls running left and right along with the main instruments up front. Some of the instruments are not what you would expect to find on a modern day aircraft which would be used in such operations as this was. Ever heard of an Attention Getter?

So it's time to start her up and take to the skies, again this can be achieved through both cockpit variants. If you’re quite nervous about flying this aircraft correctly you can of course take the quick option of CTRL + E but hey this is the 1950's and I have to do this thing right!

Eleven operations in total are required to start the engines, it's not a big job and the purring sounds emitted only increase the adrenalin. As I said earlier there is an autopilot which can be used, but for today I'm flying this with one hand firmly on the stick. I have the order from the bridge to take position on the runway and as I slowly open the throttle we move gently away. Wings can be extended and you’re ready to fly.

Take off in the Vixen is easy, as it would have to be given the short take off space permitted on an aircraft carrier for example, and once airborne the heavy beast can toil at times especially when turning circles are done at high speed, this aside once you get to grips with the quirky nature of it you will have endless fun.

I decided to stay close to the carrier which was based just off the coast of Devon, UK and completed circuits with no trouble at all, the one thing to look out for upon coming into land is the way you can quite easily stall this aircraft, getting your approach speed correct is very important or the whole thing will just drop like a stone!

Flying at altitude is amazing, you can climb at approximately 9,000' per minute, so not much time to take in the views below. However, this is an old jet and the agility is as I said somewhat lacking, but this would be expected in a aircraft from this era.

More about the cockpit, the textures are as you usually find in today’s simulated aircraft being photo real, giving the perfect feeling of being in a classic plane. Even the textures for the seat have been carefully added, overall the cockpit interior is given a worn look which only enhances the appearance. The lighting is also very favourable with just enough to give a true ambience around the area.

Externally the aircraft graphically was pin sharp at no matter what distance you looked at it from, even the tight close ups as you peeked in at the airman sat in his seat were crystal clear. Frame rates were pretty good, and dependant on which PC you are running this should fly trouble free for you without those nasty pauses from time to time!

One of the nice things about this software is that whatever type of PC monitor you own a 4:3 or a 16:9, you can adjust the setting of the 2d or 3d virtual cockpit to fit exactly your screen resolution!

All in all the Sea Vixen is definitely an enthusiasts model for flight sim, and one that many fans will I’m sure look forward to flying. If it's a 10 minute play thing your after then think again, this is a real simulation and although we all have access to the easy settings, this bird has to be flown as it should, or would have been today, to gain the maximum enjoyment.

It's great to see these classic aircraft available, as in the real world, where we just would not have the opportunity to see them every day of the week. Skysim are still a young company and with more development of this nature, these classic aircraft will continue to amaze and amuse you for years to come, the message is clear from Skysim, "20th century aircraft for the 21st century simmer" What more could anyone want!

To conclude, I landed safely back on the carrier folded the wings up and retired downstairs for debriefing, nice cup of tea and feet up. Phew! What a day...

For more information about the Sea Vixen please visit Skysim