Fairey Gannet
Profile Drawings
Prototypes
Type Q VR546, Fairey Aviation, White Waltham, 1949; author
As first flown on 19th September 1949; spin recovery parachute in tube under tail
Overall natural metal
Type Q VR557, Fairey Aviation, White Waltham, 1950; author
As first flown; radome and arrestor hook added
Early naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
GR.17 WE488, Fairey Aviation, White Waltham, 1952; author
Enlarged wings and weapons bay, finlets and rear cockpit added
Early naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
Production Aircraft
T.2 WN365, Fairey Aviation, White Waltham, 1954; author
As first flown on 16th August 1954; jetpipes extended, radome deleted and periscope added
Early trainer scheme of overall natural metal and yellow bands
AS.1 WN369, 812 NAS, HMS Eagle, 1956; author
Early AS.1 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AS.1 WN458, 817 NAS, RAN, HMAS Melbourne (Australia), 1956; author
Standard AS.1 configuration; portholes deleted
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AS.4 XA457, 825 NAS, RNAS Culdrose, 1957; author
Standard AS.4 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AS.4 UA101, Marinefliegergeschwader 1, Bundesmarine, Schleswig-Jagel (Germany), 1958; author
Standard AS.4 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AS.1 WN345, Armstrong-Siddeley Motors, Bitteswell, 1958; author
Early AS.1 configuration, radar removed, nose modified to hold ASMD.8 Double Mamba 102 (part of AEW.3 development)
Early naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AS.1 XG785, 816 NAS, RAN, HMAS Melbourne (Australia), circa 1960; author
Standard AS.1 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
T.5 LA17, SkwU100, ALRI, Surabaya (Indonesia), 1960; author
Standard T.5 configuration
Early trainer scheme of overall natural metal and yellow bands
ECM.6 WN464, 831 NAS, RAF Watton, 1964; author
Typical ECM.x configuration; various additional aerials
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AEW.3 XL481, 849 NAS, HMS Victorious, 1966; author
Standard AEW.3 configuration; new fuselage with radar, early (slightly smaller) wings, new undercarriage
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
COD.4 XA466, 849 NAS A Flight, HMS Victorious, 1966; author
Standard COD.4 configuration; radome deleted, various additional aerials
Standard COD scheme of Dark Blue Grey
T.5 XG888, 849 NAS HQ Flight, RNAS Brawdy, 1969; author
Standard T.5 configuration
Later trainer scheme of overall natural metal with dayglo red bands; replacement engine unit in Sky
COD.4 XA466, 849 NAS HQ Flight, RNAS Lossiemouth, 1977; author
Standard COD.4 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky (unusual on COD airframe, only kept for around a year)
AEW.3 XL472, 849 NAS, HMS Ark Royal, 1978; author
Standard AEW.3 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky
AS.4 12160, 880 MR Squadron CAF, CFB Summerside, 1980 (retirement scheme); author
What-if? ...the Canadians had chosen the Gannet instead of the Tracker?
Blue Grey and Light Blue Grey
AEW.3 N1350X/XL482, Hamilton Standard, Windsor Locks (USA), 1983; author
Mostly standard AEW.3 configuration; propeller vibration testbed with instrumentation boom under port wing
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky; no wing roundels
ECM.6 XA459, White Waltham Aerodrome, 2009; author
Typical ECM.x configuration; back at the old home of Fairey Aviation
Mostly faded and weathered standard naval scheme - markings are not authentic, having been applied during this airframe's time at the Wales Aircraft Museum in the 1980s
Visitor Comments
18 people have commented on this page. This is comment section 1 of 2.
Ray Burrows from Belfast
Posted at 11:41pm on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Nice site, pity there are no aircraft profiles showing machines based at Eglinton, N.Ireland (HMS Gannet). Both 719 and 737 Sqns flew from here and many Gannet squadrons were reformed at the station. Just to keep your readers informed, the mid section of XA460 (Doncaster)was transported to the Ulster Aviation Society's collection on December 14th the remainder will hopefully follow on December 29th. It is our intention to restore her to represent an aircraft that was based at Eglinton.
Webmaster response: I shall try and rectify that before the new year!
Kev Coombs from Yeovil, Somerset
Posted at 2:39pm on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
My Dad has worked on these great aircraft at RNAS Yeovilton many years ago.And where we lived just up the road in the next village, We had one crash while flying at night,Sadly all crew on-board were killed, All that was left was A big Hole in the ground and the large raydome was left complete on the top of the hole.
It appears that the crew became disorientated and then the aircraft became inverted,Lost height and hit the ground.
Glenn Cassel AMH1(AW) USNavy Retired from California
Posted at 1:41am on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
I was able to see one of these while I served aboard USS Independence CV62 during cross deck ops with HMS Ark Royal in 1975 and 1976. Unique and amazing aircraft!
Tom Fey from Chicago
Posted at 12:40am on Saturday, July 30th, 2011
Can anybody please tell me the model designation and diameter of the Rotol props used on the Gannet? Thanks
Pete Thorne from bristol
Posted at 5:45pm on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
James my father Pete field crash landed at bitteswell in 1958 in a gannet did you make it to the pub with them after?
Pete Thorne from nailsea
Posted at 11:37pm on Monday, May 9th, 2011
James my father crashed his gannet at Bitteswell 1958 and walked away did you make it to the pub with them that evening ??
James Morrow from Leicester
Posted at 9:30pm on Sunday, December 5th, 2010
An ATCO Bitteswell(EGBC) 1946-82. Watched all the development of ASM engines incl Double-Mamba of the Gannet. Now aged 83!
Tom McClain from Toledo, Ohio
Posted at 8:53pm on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
Hello, Roger Hitchon from Goose Bay, Labrador-
I am interested in the photos that you have. I collect warbird information, as I am an A&P instructor (always looking for odd airplanes for my students to research. If you woul d forward anything about the aircraft, I would be appreciated.
Tom
Roger Hitchon from Goose Bay, Labrador
Posted at 1:27am on Friday, June 25th, 2010
Hello, I found your site while looking for information on the T5 Gannet parked at Goose Bay. I am a pilot here on a jackpine budworm spray pprogram using M18A Dromaders (much uglier than the Gannet). I regret to inform you that this aircraft has been put outside, evidently because of unpaid maintenance bills. It appears to have suffered some vandalism on the form of stolen parts and disconnected or removed parts, although it appears to be in good condition. Unfortunately outdoor storage won't do it any g... read more »read more »
ERIC SHEPHERD from WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Posted at 5:46pm on Friday, June 18th, 2010
In 1954 a Gannet from HMAS Melbourne landed at RAF Waterbeach, I became very good friends with the aircrewman during their stay. In 2008, I finally made contact with him again and we frequently meet for lunch here in Perth. A truly nostalgic reunion believe me.