Fairey Gannet

Infobox Aircraft
name= Gannet
type=Anti-submarine warfare aircraft
manufacturer=Fairey Aviation Company


caption=Fairey Gannet AS.4 of the Fleet Air Arm
designer= H. E. Chaplin
first flight=19 September 1949
introduced=1953
retired= 15 December 1978 [849 Naval Air Squadron flying Gannet COD.4 aircraft from "Ark Royal" and RAF Lossiemouth]
status=
primary user=Fleet Air Arm
more users = Royal Australian Navy German Navy Armed Forces of Indonesia
produced=1953-1959
number built=348
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company. It is a mid-wing monoplane with a tricycle undercarriage and a crew of three, and double turbo-prop engine driving two contra-rotating propellers.

Design and development

The Gannet was built in response to the 1945 Admiralty requirement GR.17/45, for which prototypes by Fairey (Type Q or Fairey 17, after the requirement) and Blackburn Aircraft (the Blackburn B-54 / B-88) were built.

After considering and discounting the Rolls-Royce TweedWilliams 1989, p. 94.] turboprop, Fairey selected an engine based on the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba; the Double Mamba (or "Twin Mamba"). The Double Mamba was basically two Mambas mounted side by side and coupled through a common gearbox to contra-rotating propellers. The ASMD.1 engine (2,950 hp) was used in the Gannet AS.1; ASMD.3 (3,145 hp) in the AS.4; and ASMD.4 (3,875 hp) in the AEW.3 variant. The Double Mamba engine could be run with one half stopped to conserve fuel and extend endurance for cruise flight. The contra-rotating propellers meant that when only one half of the Mamba was running, there were no asymmetry of thrust problems encountered Taylor 1969, p. 361.] . The Mamba exhausts on each side of the fuselage, at the root of the wing trailing edge. The gas turbine engine can run on kerosene, "wide-cut" turbine fuel or diesel fuel, allowing the Admiralty to eliminate the dangerous high-octane petroleum spirit required by piston engines from carrier operation. .

The pilot is seated well forward – conferring a good view over the nose for carrier operations – and sits over the Double Mamba engine, directly behind the gearbox and propellers. The second crew member, an aerial observer, is seated under a separate canopy directly behind the pilot. After the prototype, a second observer was included, in his own cockpit over the wing trailing edge. This addition disturbed the airflow over the horizontal stabiliser, requiring small finlets on either sideWilliams 1989, p. 95.] . The Gannet has a large internal weapons bay in the fuselage and a retractable radome under the rear fuselage.

The Gannet's wing folds in two places to form a distinctive Z-shape on each side. The first fold is at about 1/3 of the wing length where the inboard anhedral (down-sweep) changes to the outboard dihedral (up-sweep) of the wing. The second wing fold is at about 2/3 of the wing length. The length of the nose wheel oleo strut causes the Gannet to have a distinctive nose-high attitude, a common characteristic of carrier aircraft.

Operational history

The prototype first flew on 19 September 1949 and made the first deck landing by a turboprop aircraft, on HMS "Illustrious" on 19 June 1950, by pilot Lieutenant Commander G. Callingham. After a further change in operational requirements, with the addition of a radar and extra crew member, the type entered production in 1953 and initial deliveries were made of the AS Mark 1 variant at RNAS Ford in April 1954. A trainer variant (T Mark 2) first flew in August 1954. The RN's first operational Gannet squadron (826 NAS) was embarked on HMS "Eagle". The initial order was for 100 AS.1 aircraft. A total of 348 Gannets were built, of which 44 were the heavily modified AEW.3. Production was shared between Fairey's factories at Hayes, Middlesex and Stockport / Ringway near Manchester.

An Airborne Early Warning variant (AEW Mk.3) was developed to replace the American-supplied, piston-engined Douglas Skyraider aircraft. This aircraft carried the American AN/APS-20F radar in a large, bulbous radome suspended beneath the fuselage, under the wing leading edge, requiring a major structural redesignWilliams 1989, p. 97.] . The fin area was increased to counter increase in side area of the radome, and the undercarriage had to be extended to provide the necessary ground clearance, giving the AEM.3 a more-or-less level stance on the ground. The two radar operators were located in a cabin in the fuselage, accessed by small hatches over the wing trailing edge. This variant first flew in August 1958, with trials carried out with HMS "Centaur" in November. For stability, it required a redesigned fin and rudder together with the small vertical fins on the tailplane fitted to the other versions. When the AEW.3s were withdrawn and scrapped, their radar equipment was recycled into the Royal Air Force Avro Shackleton AEW.2.

By the mid-1960s, the AS.1s and AS.4s had been replaced by the Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 helicopters. Gannets continued as Electronic countermeasures aircraft: the ECM.6. Some AS.4s were converted to COD.4s for Carrier onboard delivery — the aerial supply of mail and light cargo to the fleet.

The Royal Australian Navy purchased the Gannet (AS.1 - 36 aircraft). It operated from the aircraft carrier HMAS "Melbourne" and the shore base HMAS "Albatross" near Nowra, New South Wales. The German Navy bought the AS.4 and T.5 variants. Indonesia bought a number of AS.4 and T.5s (re-modelled from RN AS.1s and T.2s) in 1959. Some Gannets were later acquired by various other countries.

Airframe and handling issues

At least one Gannet accident was attributed to the vibration from the engine causing fatigue cracking of the tail, to the extent that the tail separated in flight.

There is no known case of the tailplane separating in flight in RN service. Fatigue cracking of the tailplane attachment frame occurred on a number of AS.1 and T.2 aircraft due to buffeting in the flaps-up stall. In the worst case, one tailplane attachment fitting broke away allowing the tailplane to move in roll several degrees; the aircraft landed safely. The attachment frames of all aircraft were extensively reinforced after this incident.

Markings

In FAA service, the Gannet generally wore the standard camouflage scheme of a Sky (duck-egg blue) underside and fuselage sides, with Extra Dark Sea Grey upper surfaces, the fuselage demarcation line running from the nose behind the propeller spinner in a straight line to then curve and join the line of the fin. Code numbers are typically painted on the side of the fuselage ahead of the wing; roundel and serial markings were behind the wing.

Variants

Production numbers in brackets;Gannet AS Mark 1:Three-seat anti-submarine version (180 aircraft were built).;Gannet T Mark 2:Training version of the Gannet AS 1. The Gannet T 2 trainer entering service in 1955 (35 aircraft were built).;Gannet AEW Mark 3:Airborne early warning aircraft for the Royal Navy. The Gannet AEW.3 entering service in 1958/1959 (44 aircraft were built).;Gannet AS Mark 4:Three-seat anti-submarine version, with improved performance from a more powerful engine (82 aircraft were built).;Gannet COD Mark 4:AS.4 Gannets modified to operate as cargo/passenger transport aircraft.;Gannet T Mark 5:Training version of the Gannet AS.4 trainer (eight aircraft were built).;Gannet AS Mark 6:Small number of Gannet AS.4s fitted with new radar and electronics.;Gannet ECM Mark 6:Electronic countermeasures version, operating from shore bases.

Operators

;AUS
*Fleet Air Arm (Royal Australian Navy)
** 724 Squadron RAN
** 725 Squadron RAN
** 816 Squadron RAN
** 817 Squadron RAN

;GER;IDN

;UK:
*Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) Multicol
** 700 Naval Air Squadron
** 703 Naval Air Squadron
** 703X Flight
** 719 Naval Air Squadron
** 724 Naval Air Squadron
** 725 Naval Air Squadron
** 737 Naval Air Squadron
** 744 Naval Air Squadron
** 796 Naval Air Squadron
** 810 Naval Air Squadron
** 812 Naval Air Squadron
** 814 Naval Air Squadron

** 815 Naval Air Squadron
** 816 Naval Air Squadron
** 817 Naval Air Squadron
** 820 Naval Air Squadron
** 824 Naval Air Squadron
** 825 Naval Air Squadron
** 826 Naval Air Squadron
** 831 Naval Air Squadron
** 847 Naval Air Squadron
** 849 Naval Air Squadron (AEW.3)
** 1840 Naval Air Squadron Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Multicol-end

urvivors

*Gannet T2 "XA508", Fleet Air Arm Museum.
*Gannet T5 "XG883", Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley, Berkshire, England.
*Gannet AEW3 "XL472", Gatwick Aviation Museum, Surrey, England
*Gannet "XL450", at the Flugausstellung Hermeskeil in Germany.
*Gannet "XG831" at Davidstow War Museum in Cornwall.
*Gannet XA459 at White Waltham Airfield, England.
*Gannet, Serial no. F9139 at Surabaya, Indonesia [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?placesearch=Surabaya%20-%20Juanda%20(SUB%20%2F%20WARR)&distinct_entry=true] .
*Gannet, Serial no. F9127 at Jakarta, Indonesia [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?placesearch=Surabaya%20-%20Juanda%20(SUB%20%2F%20WARR)&distinct_entry=true] .

pecifications - Gannet AS Mark 4

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Fact|date=September 2008
crew=Three
length main=43 ft
length alt=13.11 m
span main=54 ft 4 in
span alt=16.57 m
height main=13 ft 8 in
height alt=4.17 m
area main=490 ft²
area alt=45.5 m²
empty weight main=14,530 lb
empty weight alt=6,590 kg
loaded weight main=22,500 lb
loaded weight alt=10,200 kg
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
engine (prop)=Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ASMD.3
type of prop=turboprop
number of props=1
power main=3,145 hp
power alt=2,346 kW
max speed main=300 mph
max speed alt=260 knots
max speed more=at sea level
range main=945 miles
range alt=820 nautical miles
ceiling main=25,000 ft
ceiling alt=6,700 m
climb rate main=310 ft/min
climb rate alt=11.2 m/s
loading main=47.8 lb/ft²
loading alt=234 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.13 hp/lb
power/mass alt=220 W/kg
armament=
*Up to 2,850 lb (1,300 kg) of stores, including bombs, depth charges, 2x torpedoes internally, or 16 x 60 lb (26 kg) rockets.

pecifications - Gannet AEW Mark 3

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=British Naval Aircraft since 1912 Thetford 1978, p. 190.]
crew=3
length main=44 ft
length alt=13.41 m
span main=54 ft 4 in
span alt=16.57 m
height main=16 ft 10 in
height alt=5.13 m
area main=490 ft²
area alt=45.5 m²
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=25,000 lb
loaded weight alt=11,400 kg
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
engine (prop)=Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ASMD.4
type of prop=turboprop
number of props=1 contra-rotating
power main=3,875 hp
power alt=2,890 kW
max speed main=250 mph
max speed alt=217 knots, 402 km/h
range main=700 miles
range alt=609 NM, 1127 km
ceiling main=25,000 ft
ceiling alt=7,600 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=*Endurance: 5-6 hours
armament=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
* Breguet Alizé
* Grumman S-2 Tracker
* Short Seamew
* Tupolev Tu-91
lists=
* List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Sturtivant, Ray and Theo Ballance."The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm". London: Air-Britain, 1994. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
* Taylor, H.A."Fairey Aircraft Since 1915". London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-00065-X.
* Taylor, John W.R. "Fairey Gannet". "Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present." New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
* Thetford, Owen."British Naval Aircraft Since 1912". London: Putnam, 1978. ISBN 0-370-30021-1.
* Velek, Martin, Michal Ovčáčík and Karel Susa. "Fairey Gannet Anti-submarine and Strike variants, AS Mk.1 & AS Mk.4 ". Prague, Czech Republic: 4+ Publications, 2007. ISBN 80-86637-04-4.
* Williams, Ray. "Fly Navy: Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945". London: Airlife Publishing, 1989. ISBN 1-85310-057-9.

External links

* [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/fairey.gannet/ Fairey Gannet Owners Club (UK)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhZRVc9SS0M Footage on Youtube]