de Havilland Sea Venom
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1951 · fighter
The de Havilland Sea Venom was a carrier-based all-weather fighter and attack aircraft developed for the Fleet Air Arm from the RAF's Venom. It introduced a side-by-side two-seat cockpit for the observer/radar operator and a folding wing for carrier stowage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-boom tail with central nacelle housing crew of two side-by-side
- Straight mid-mounted wing with prominent tip tanks
- Single Ghost turbojet exhausting beneath the tail booms
The twin-boom layout with a central nacelle accommodating two crew side-by-side is uniquely distinctive; the straight mid-wing with folding outer panels, prominent wing-tip tanks, and single Ghost engine exhausting under the tail booms identify it from all angles.
Specifications
- The de Havilland Sea Venom has a length of 11.15 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.7 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 901 km/h (560 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the DH.112 Venom night fighter, the Sea Venom first flew in April 1951 and entered Fleet Air Arm service in 1954. It saw combat during the 1956 Suez Crisis, flying ground-attack sorties from HMS Eagle and HMS Albion. The type was retired from frontline RN service by 1960 as swept-wing jets arrived, but continued in second-line roles into the mid-1960s.
Variants
The Sea Venom FAW.20, FAW.21, and FAW.22 formed the main production run with progressively updated radar and avionics; Australia operated the FAW.53 built by de Havilland Australia; France produced a licence-built variant as the SNCASE Aquilon.
Where you'll see it
Examples are preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton and the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall; the RAAF Museum at Point Cook holds an Australian FAW.53.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland Vampire T.11
- de Havilland Comet
- de Havilland Venom FB.1
- de Havilland Venom FB.4
- Avia S-102
- Bell X-5
- Dassault Mystère IV
- de Havilland Sea Vixen
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