SEA VIXEN FIGHTER EMERGENCY AT HANDOVER
What should have been a simple ceremony to mark the handover of a rare Royal Navy fighter jet to the Fleet Air Arm historic flight nearly went wrong when the plane concerned landed and burst a tyre.
The iconic Sea Vixen aircraft, the only one still flying, nearly ended in disaster after it landed following a brief flying display and the tyre incident caused a fleet of emergency vehicles to rush to its aid at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset UK.
Lt Cdr Matt Whitfield who flew the Sea Vixen plane that was used by the Royal Navy in the 1960’s.
The plane was being given by Jersey based, oil businessman, Julian Jones of DS Simulation to the Fleet Air Arm and all was going well until after an impressive flying display in which Julian was in the navigators seat himself for that.
The plan was to land and smoothly taxi in and for the plane nick named ‘Foxy Lady’ to be presented to the owners in front of an invited audience however the port tyre burst throwing fragments of rubber and metal into the air and left a smoke trail along the runway as it ground to a halt.
Burst tyre on landing at RNAS Yeovilton.
Two fire engines and an ambulance from the Naval air base were sent to the aircraft as it taxied to a halt on the edge of the runway, leaving the guests 400 metres away from to plane!
Sea Vixen Foxy Lady
The presentation of the Sea Vixen aircraft then went ahead after a long delay whilst the emergency services dealt with the plane and extracted the pilot and its former owner Julian from what is called the ‘coalhole’, as it’s a cramped position to the left of the pilot in the 1960’s fighter plane.
Fire crews out to deal with the Sea Vixen on landing at Yeovilton.
After running repairs to the aircraft it was later towed into a safe position where the invited guests could get a close up look and admire the plane that was gifted for the sum of just one Jersey Pound note!
The aircraft will now feature as part of the Fleet Air Arm’s historic flight and will appear at many airshows and tourist events all over the UK.
