Hawker Sea Hawk FB5

The Hawker Sea Hawk was a British single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm, the air branch of the Royal Navy. The type was used in the Suez Crisis, and a host of British Mediterranean, Middle East and Far East commitments. IWM's Sea Hawk served on board HMS Albion, HMS Centaur and HMS Eagle between 1954 and 1959, as well as several postings at UK and overseas bases including Hal Far, Malta. This Sea Hawk has been identified by the British Aviation Preservation Council as 'Benchmark' aircraft of type within the UK national collection of aviation heritage assets and listed in the National Aviation Heritage Register as such. Sea Hawks were built by Hawker Aircraft and its sister company, Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. Although its origins stemmed from earlier Hawker piston-engined fighters, the Sea Hawk became the company's first jet aircraft.

Hawker Sea Hawk FB5 British single-seat naval Fighter Bomber. In service with the Royal Navy from 1953 to 1960. The prototype Sea Hawk was Hawker's first jet aircraft. It proved to be very popular with its pilots, who spoke highly of its manoeuverabilty and ease of control. Sea Hawks saw operational service with five squadrons embarked on the carriers Albion, Eagle and Bulwark during the Suez campaign of 1956. The Fleet Air Arm retired its Sea Hawks from front-line service in 1960, but the aircraft remained in service, notably with the West German Navy, which had ordered 64 of them in 1956. Other foreign purchasers were India and the Netherlands. Most Sea Hawks were built by Armstrong Siddeley, as Hawker was concentrating production on the Hunter fighter. Sea Hawk FB5 WM969, was delivered to the Royal Navy in 1954, serving from September 1954 to February 1956 with 898 Squadron aboard HMS Albion in the Mediterranean. A further period was spent with 811 Squadron in HMS Centaur before the aircraft joined 806 Squadron, initially at RNAS Lossiemouth, and later in HMS Eagle until 1958. From 1964 to 1976 WM969 was with the School of Aircraft Handling at Culdrose before being transferred to the Imperial War Museum. Crew: One pilot Construction: All metal stressed skin Engine: One Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine of 23,100 N (52,00 lb) thrust Weapons: 227 kg (500 lb) of bombs or rocket projectiles Four 20 mm cannon Performance: Maximum speed: 901 kph (560 mph) Service ceiling: 13,564 m (44,500 ft) Combat range: 1,609 km (1,000 miles) Dimensions: Wing span: 11.9 m (39 ft) Length: 12.1 m (39 ft l0 in) Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 9 in) Weight: Empty: 4,169 kg (9,190 lb) Loaded: 6,906 kg (15,225 lb)

Entered service 28 June 1954 at R.N.A.S Stretton. 28 Aug 1954 until 4 Nov 1954 at 898 squad. R.N.A.S Brawdy. 4 Nov 1954 until 9 Nov 1954 at N.A.S. Halfar C.A.M. 9 Nov 1954 until 24 Jan 1956 at 898 Squad HMS Falcon. 24 Jan 1956 until 14 May 1956 at 811 squad. 14 May 1956 until 7 Jan 1957 at R.N.A.Y Fleetlands 7 Jan 1957 until 29 March 1958 at 806 squad at Lossiemouth 29 March 1958 until 25 June 1958 at R.N.A.Y Fleetlands 25 June 1958 until 13 Oct 1959 at Airworks Hurn 13 Oct 1959 until 28 Apr 1960 at R.N.A.Y.Fleetlands 28 Apr 1960 until 14 May 1964 Airworks Hurn 14 May 1964 went to RNAS Culdrose Cornwall until transferred to IWM in 1977