Designation: AEW.3

Fairey Gannet

Fairey AEW.3 Gannet

A picture of the Fairey AEW.3 Gannet

Designed in response to a 1945 Royal Navy request for a dedicated anti-submarine aircraft the first Gannet flew in 1949, but did not enter service until 1955.  The Gannet is widely regarded as one of the least attractive aircraft ever built, however its large fuselage made it ideal for adaptation to other uses.  Introduced in 1959, the AEW.3 variant was designed as an airborne early warning aircraft for fleet defense.  The addition of the large bulged radar dome under the fuselage did little for the Gannet’s looks, but it did give the Royal Navy radar coverage of their fleet out to 200 miles from the aircraft.  The other main versions of the Gannet were a trainer and a transport for moving people and cargo to a carrier at sea.  The Gannet served with the Royal Navy until 1978 when the British decommissioned their last true aircraft carrier.

Wingspan 54 ft 4 in.

Wingspan

Length 44 ft

Length

Height 16 ft 10 in.

Height

Weight 25,000 lbs (loaded)

Weight

Max. Speed 271 knots

Maximum Speed

Service Ceiling 25,000 ft

Service Ceiling

Range 700 miles

Range

Engines 1 Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ASMD.4 turboshaft with 3,875 horsepower

Engine

Crew 3

Crew


Manufacturer
Fairey

Markings
Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, 1978

Designation
AEW.3

Registration
N1350X

Serial Number
XL482

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