Fairey Gannet - Profile Drawings

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Prototypes

VR546 profile

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

VR557 profile

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

WE488 profile

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

WN365 profile

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

WN369 profile

AS.1 WN369, 812 NAS, HMS Eagle, 1956; author
Early AS.1 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky

WN458 profile

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

XA457 profile

AS.4 XA457, 825 NAS, RNAS Culdrose, 1957; author
Standard AS.4 configuration
Standard naval scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky

UA101 profile

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

WN345 profile

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

XG785 profile

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

LA17 profile

T.5 LA17, SkwU100, ALRI, Surabaya (Indonesia), 1960; author
Standard T.5 configuration
Early trainer scheme of overall natural metal and yellow bands

WN464 profile

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

XL481 profile

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

12160 profile

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

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.
Ricky Hague from bradford,	Posted at 9:24pm on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
an excellent site ,very informative.well done!!
Jason Brooks from Arizona, USA	Posted at 1:40am on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
I recently saw an AEW Mk.3 at a museum in Tucson Arizona. I was fascinated by the unusual design and quirky appearance. I am retired from the USAF and really enjoy seeing aircraft from all over the world. The history of the Gannet caught my attention and compelled me to research on the web. The one in Arizona: Serial # XL482 Royal Navel Air Station Lossiemouoth around 1978.
Pete from South Coast	Posted at 10:47pm on Friday, November 20th, 2009
Nice to see my old Squadron A/C illustrated. Was on 825 Sqd for 6 months at Culdrose and Malta. Lovely cabs.
Ernie Fisher from Australia	Posted at 7:43am on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Just a note if interest,I was recently working in Surabya, Indonesia. At the airport reound about is a Gannet AS4 mounted, there is also a Wasp helicopter there as well, they are livered in the Indonesian Naval logo
NORMAN THORPE from BALLYKELLY	Posted at 11:57pm on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
SUPER DUPER I USED TO SEE THEM AT HMS GANNET EGLINTON CO LONDONDERRY MY DAD WORKED THERE MANY YEARS AGO AND MY UNCLE WORKED ON THEM WITH THE GERMAN NAVY
PJB from Chard	Posted at 2:06pm on Sunday, July 12th, 2009
I also used to see that Gannet in Cirencester. Good to know it is still around. I did the last part of my NS at RAF Home Command, White Waltham and remember that one of the Gannets made a landing short of the field one day, almost on the road.
Sean from France	Posted at 8:17am on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Does anyone know what happened to the AS4 parked in someones garden close to Cirencester town bypass-I used to see the tops of the folded wings all the time!Never could work out Where it was located to go and have a closer look. Webmaster response: That was XA459, now at White Waltham.
Mark Smith from Ipswich	Posted at 10:32am on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
Great detail and information

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