Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Fairey Gannet
The Fairey Gannet is a carrier-borne Anti-submarine warfare and Airborne Early Warning aircraft of the immediate post World War II-era developed for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It has a conventional monoplane mid-wing and tricycle undercarriage. The pilot sits over the gas turbine engine atop the fuselage and behind the double, co-axial, contra-rotating propellors; the one (or two) crew sit in additional cockpit stations behind the pilot.
The Gannet's wings fold 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.
The Gannet has been called "the ugliest aircraft in the world".
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History
Development. The Gannet was built in response to the 1945 Admiralty requirement GR.17/45, for which prototypes by Fairey ("Type Q") and Blackburn ("YB.1") were built. 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.1 variant at RNAS Ford in April 1954. A trainer variant (T.2) first flew in August 1954. The RN's first operational Gannet squadron (826 ) was embarked on HMS Eagle. The initial order was for 100 aircraft. The total built is reported to be 441.
Operational history. An Airborne Early Warning variant (AEW.3) used the AN/APS 20 radar in a bulbous radome suspended beneath the body. This variant first flew in August 1958, with trials carried out with HMS Centaur in November. For stability, it required the addition of small vertical stabilisers mid-chord both sides of the horizontal stabiliser, further distinguishing it from other versions.
By mid-1960, the AS.1s and AS.4s were replaced by the Westland Whirlwind HAS7 with some Gannets continuing as an Electronic countermeasures ECM.6 variant. Some AS.4s were also converted as COD.4s for Carrier onboard delivery. These were extended in service until finally scrapped, with the radars re-used in the Royal Air Force Avro Shackletons.
The Gannet was sold into service with the Royal Australian Navy (AS.1 - 36 aircraft) flying 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 some AS.4 and T.5 variants (re-modelled from RN AS.1s and T.2s), in 1959. Some Gannets were later acquired by various other countries including Czechoslovakia and Chile.
Markings. (See photos) The Gannet is mostly seen in the distinctive pastel green fuselage colour, with highlights of darker (olive) green on the top and sides of the fuselage running from the nose behind the propellor boss in a straight line to then curve and join the line of the vertical stabiliser (tail). The wings are also piainted in the darker green. Side numbers are typically painted on the side of the fuselage ahead of the wing; roundel and service markings are behind the wing.
Engine
After considering and discounting the Rolls-Royce Merlin (actually, twin Merlins) due to size, the Fairey decided to install an engine plant based on the Armstrong-Siddeley Mamba. A Double Mamba (also commonly called the "Twin Mamba") was selected, driving two counter-rotating propellors through a common gearbox.
The ASMD.1 engines (2,950hp) were used in the AS.1, ASMD.3 engines (3,145hp) inn the AS.4, and ASMD.4 (3,875hp) in the AEW.3 variant.
The Double Mamba engine could be cruised with one of the engines stopped, to conserve fuel and extend endurance. It has been said by pilots that, while this was possible, it was inadvisable at low altitude -- in case the operating engine stopped for some reason. This happened frequently enough to be a 'known fault', and created considerable disquiet for the crew while that or the other engine was restarted.
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 inflight.
Specifications (Gannet AEW.3)
General Characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 43 ft (13.11 m)
- Wingspan: 54 ft 4 in (16.57 m)
- Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.18 m)
- Wing area: 490 ft² (45.5 m²)
- Empty: 14,069 lb (6,395 kg)
- Loaded: 23,446 lb (10,657 kg)
- Maximum takeoff: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1x Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ASMD.3, 3,145 hp (2,346 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 299 mph (478 km/h)
- Range: 622 miles (995 km)
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (6,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 310 ft/min (11.2 m/min)
- Wing loading: 47.8 lb/ft² (234 kg/m²)
- Power/Mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.22 kW/kg)
Armament
- up to 2,850 lb (1,300 kg) of stores, including
- bombs
- depth charges
- 2x torpedoes, carried internally
- 16x 60 lb (26 kg) rockets
See also
Comparable aircraft
- Breguet Alizé
- Grumman S-2 Tracker
- Short Seamew
Designation sequence
Gannet
- Spearfish
- Gyrodyne
External links
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