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Sea Venom WZ897, Seen Here On HMAS Melbourne, Survives To This Day With The Camden Museum Of Aviation. (Defence PR)
Aircraft of the ADF – N4 DH Sea Venom
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N4 – De Havilland Dh.112 Sea Venom Faw.53
As part of the RAN’s update to the next generation of carrierborne aircraft, on July 23 1951, the Minister for the Navy, Billy McMahon, announced an order for Sea Venoms to replace the Sea Fury.
The new aircraft would become the Fleet Air Arm’s new air defence fighter, and the Navy’s first frontline jet aircraft. The original intention had been to produce Sea Venoms at Bankstown following the Vampire on the production line, but this was changed to a straight purchase of 39 aircraft from England. Also, it had been intended that HMAS Sydney would be modified to handle faster aircraft, similar to HMAS Melbourne, which was fitted with an angled deck and steam catapult. However, this too was changed, and the Sea Venom was never destined to operate from Sydney.
The de Havilland Sea Venom was the Royal Navy’s first jet all weather fighter, succeeding the Sea Hornet on carriers in 1954. RN evaluation of the land based Venom NF2 had led to the prototype Sea Venom NF20, strengthened for catapult takeoff and equipped with deck arrester hook. Later, power operated folding wings were added. The first prototype, serialled WK376, flew on April 19 1951, and conducted carrier trials from HMS Illustrious during that July. The first production variant was the Sea Venom FAW.20, the first (WM500) flying in March 1953. Fifty of this model were produced, powered by the 4850 pound (21.7KN) Ghost 103 turbojet.
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