Fairey Gannet ~ Anti-Submarine aircraft ✈️

[JEJaviation]

The Gannet AEW.3 is a variant of the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine warfare aircraft for use in the airborne early warning (AEW) role on aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. It was introduced to service in 1959 to replace the obsolete Douglas Skyraider and was intended as an interim solution until the planned introduction of a new, purpose built AEW platform for use on the planned CVA-01 aircraft carriers. Neither the new aircraft carriers nor the new AEW aircraft were proceeded with, and the Gannet AEW.3 remained in service until the last aircraft carrier that could operate it (HMS Ark Royal) was retired in 1978.
The initial design intention was to undertake as little in the way of modification to the ASW
Gannet as possible - the AN/APS-20 radar from the Skyraider would simply be mounted in a radome under the fuselage with the associated electronics and space for two operators inside. However, it was found that there was insufficient ground clearance to accept the size of radome required to accommodate the radar, meaning a significant modification to the fuselage was required. The undercarriage had to be extended and the observer's cockpits removed. A new cabin was created within the fuselage, accessed via a pair of hatches next to the trailing edge of the wing, which also meant that the exhausts had to be moved from this position to the leading edge. The vertical stabilizer also had to be enlarged to compensate for the instability caused by the radome. Such were the extensive modifications required that it was suggested that the AEW version be renamed as the Fairy Albatross, but this was not authorized.
The prototype Gannet AEW.3 first flew in August 1958, with carrier trials taking place aboard HMS Centaur in November, and the first production aircraft, of an eventual total of 44, was delivered in December.
The sole operational Gannet AEW squadron, 849 NAS, had an HQ Flight and four operational flights. The Squadron was based at RNAS Culdrose (1960-1965), RNAS Brawdy (1965-1970) and RNAS Lossiemouth (1970-1978). The four flights operated at various times from five aircraft carriers, HMS Ark Royal (1960-1978), HMS Centaur (1961-1963), HMS Eagle (1964-
1971), HMS Hermes (1960-1970) and HMS Victorious (1960-1967).
On operations the Gannet tended to cruise on just one engine of the Double Mamba powerplant, alternating between the two engines every half an hour.

Length: 44 ft (13.41 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft 4 in (16.57 m)
Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
Loaded weight: 25, 000 lb (11, 400 kg) Maximum speed: 250 ph
Range: 700 miles (1, 127 km)
Powerplant: 1 x Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba turboprop, 3, 875 eh (2, 890 kW) fitted with 2 contra-rotating 4-bladed propellers

[kirkmccollum]

This is great information to have and know! From where was the Gannet in this video obtained and will it be restored to flying status or for display only? Thanks for posting!!