Thunder & Lightnings

Fairey Gannet - Walkaround Photos - AEW.3 variant

This page will be revamped in due course - contributions welcome, particularly cockpit shots.

Fuselage

Starboard exhaust - AEW.3 XP226. Very poor photo but it at least shows the shape clearly and how mucky the area between the exhaust and its shrouding is. Starboard nose - AEW.3 XP226. The red line above the nose gear door marks the edge of the fold-out ladder; steps in the fuselage side then lead up to the cockpit. Nose - AEW.3 XL503 - showing the engine intakes. Port nose - AEW.3 XP226. Similar to starboard side but no fold-out ladder or canopy jettison/opening handles on this side. Port exhaust and wing root - AEW.3 XL503. A poor photo but does show the catapult attachment point on the wing underside (compare with the AS variant, where it is on the fuselage side). Port exhaust and radome - AEW.3 XL503. Port rear fuselage - AEW.3 XP226. The paint is quite faded; the darker area (a walkway) on the inner part of the wing was black when in service. Door with bulged window leads to radar operator's position. Starboard rear fuselage - AEW.3 XP226. Similar to port side.

Wings

Port inner weapons pylon - AEW.3 XP226. Note brace. General view inner starboard wing - AEW.3 XP226. General view outer starboard wing - AEW.3 XP226. Looking outboard and aft (pylon leading edge on the right edge of the shot). Starboard inner wingfold - AEW.3 XL503.

Undercarriage

Nose gear - AEW.3 XP226. Note port side hub is red, starboard is green. Port main gear - AEW.3 XP226. Starboard main gear - AEW.3 XP226. Starboard main gear - AEW.3 XP226.

Tail

Tail - AEW.3 XP226 viewed from the rear. Starboard rear fuselage and tailplane - AEW.3 XP226. Many squadrons applied colours to the rear portion of the small fins on the tailplane and the arrestor hook.