The Fairey Gannet was originally developed to meet a Second World War era requirement for an anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the British Royal Navy. The aircraft carried a crew of three a pilot and two aerial observers. The aircraft first flew in 1949 and entered service in 1953.
One of its most distinguishing features is a double turboprop engine driving two counter-rotating propellers. Manufactured by Armstrong Siddeley, the Double Mamba engine consisted of two Mamba engines, mounted in a side-by-side arrangement and coupled through a common gearbox to coaxial contra-rotating propellers. In operation, one engine could be stopped thereby conserving fuel and allowing the aircraft to remain on station for a longer period of time.
Gannets offered good performance and were generally well-liked by their crews. The anti-submarine role proved to be short lived however as the Royal Navy transitioned to using helicopters for that role in the 1960s. Gannets proved versatile and the type was adapted to alternative operations such as such as carrier onboard delivery and airborne electronic countermeasures missions.
One of the most extensive variants was the Gannet AEW.3. Developed as a carrier-based airborne early warning platform, this variant featured a redesigned fuselage with a new observer’s cabin within the fuselage accessed via a pair of hatches – one on each side. The exhausts for the Double Mamba engine were moved well-forward. The most distinguishing feature was the large radome under the fuselage. This variant also had longer and strengthened landing gear as well as a larger tail. The modifications were so extensive that it was suggested this new AEW version be renamed as the Fairey Albatross.
Initially lukewarm to the idea, the Royal Navy grew to greatly appreciate the invaluable advantages airborne early warning provided. The Gannet remained in service until 1978 when it was retired along with the Royal Navy’s large fleet aircraft carriers.
My artwork is a depiction of this remarkable and unique aircraft. Some find the Gannet ugly, but I rather like the unusual looks of the machine.