De Havilland Sea Venom
FAW20, FAW21 & FAW22 All-Weather Fighters
After trials with RAF Venoms the Royal Navy ordered the Sea Venom as a night and all-weather fighter. The first prototype (an NF20, soon redisignated FAW20) flew on 19 April 1951 and the first production aircraft flew on 27 March 1953. The FAW20 was followed by the main production model, the FAW21, which first flew on 22 April 1954. This changed the De Havilland Ghost Mk 103 turbojet of the FAW20 for a Mk 104 and added an AI.21 radar and powered ailerons. During production of the FAW21, ejection seats were added to the design and retro-fitted to all previous aircraft.
The final version of the Sea Venom was the FAW22 which had a Ghost Mk 105 turbojet. Some FAW22 were later modified to carry Firestreak AAMs. Sea Venoms served as the Royal Navy's main fleet defence fighter from 1954 and took part in the Suez operation in November 1956, providing air cover for the British Army. By 1960 all front line squadrons had re-equipped with Sea Vixen FAW1 but the Sea Venom continued in a training role until 1970.
A total of 50 FAW20, 167 FAW21 and 39 FAW22 were built for the Royal Navy (other sales were to Australia and France)
(Sea Venom FAW22)
Dimensions: Span 13.06 m (42ft 10in) ; Length 11.17 m (36ft 8in) ; Height 2.62 m (8ft 6in) ; Wing Area 25.99 sq.m (279.75 sq.ft)
Weights: Maximum Take-off 6985 kg (15,400 lb)
Powerplant: one De Havilland Ghost Mk 105 turbojet - 2336 kg (5,150 lb) thrust.
Performance: Maximum speed at sea level 555 mph (893 kph, 482 kt) ; Service ceiling 48,000 ft (14630 m)
Avionics: AI.21 radar
Armament: 4 20 mm cannon ; 8 pylons for 2 500lb bombs and up to 8 60lb rockets ; Firestreak AAMs (some FAW22 only)