THE mighty Sea Vixen took off from Bournemouth Airport for a flypast with its new pilot.

Lieutenant Commander Matt Whitfield, from near Shaftesbury, headed for the Isle of Sheppey with two Hawk T1 trainers.

The 37-year-old led a flypast to mark the 100th anniversary of the navy’s first purchase of an aircraft – an airship.

He is a serving officer in charge of fixed wing flying at the Royal Navy air base in Yeovilton, Somerset, and will fly the Vixen at this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival.

The Vixen is owned by De Haviland Ltd, based at Bournemouth Airport, and is a two-engined supersonic bomber built in 1963 for use on aircraft carriers.

It is the only flying example in the world and was piloted by Brian Grant until he retired after last year’s inaugural air show.

Lt Cdr Whitfield said: “It’s enormously rewarding and a phenomenal honour to be able to fly it. Physically, it’s a lot of hard work, but it’s a delight – it’s very, very powerful.”

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