It was on January 11, 1957 that the first production Scimitar took to the skies with 76 such examples manufactured. The aircraft type was retired by the Royal Navy in 1969.
Scimitar Service Trials
WITH the planned formation of the first Scimitar operational squadron at R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth on June 3, which is to embark on the Royal Navy's latest carrier, H.M.S. "Victorious", in September, the work of the Scimitar X Flight of No. 700 Squadron at R.N.A.S. Ford is now coming to a close. Formed on August 27, 1957, to undertake the Service trials of the Supermarine Scimitar F.Mk.1, No. 700 X Flight is evaluating it as an aeroplane, and as a weapon system, and is checking its performance for the compiling of range and endurance data.
Until quite recently it has been the normal practice for the Service trials of the Royal Navy's strike/fighter aircraft to be undertaken by separate units. The intensive flying trials were flown by the Naval Flight at A. and A.E.E., Boscombe Down, or a unit specially formed for the purpose; the tactical trials by the Naval Air Fighter Development Unit, and the technical evaluation by the Naval Air Maintenance Development Unit. But in April, 1955, the Director of Naval Air Warfare…
