Fairey Gannet
Summary
| Category | Other aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| First flight | 19 September 1949 |
| Year of introduction | 1953 |
| Number produced | 303 units |
| Average unit price | $2 million |
Description
The Fairey Gannet was a British aircraft developed for anti-submarine warfare and radar detection after World War II. It was designed in response to the threat of German and Japanese submarines during the war, with its design based on the specific needs of the Royal Navy.
The Gannet had a straight wing configuration with a slight gull-wing sweep and a tricycle landing gear. Its wings could fold to facilitate storage on aircraft carriers. It was equipped with a bomb bay under the fuselage and a retractable detection radar at the rear. What set it apart the most was its propulsion system. It was powered by a single turboprop engine driving a contra-rotating propeller, providing a long flight range. Its engine, the Twin Mamba, could run on either kerosene or diesel fuel, used by the Royal Navy.
Due to budget cuts in the late 1970s, the Gannet was retired earlier than planned, depriving the British Navy of advanced airborne alert capabilities. A total of 349 units were produced, some of which were exported to West Germany, Australia, and Indonesia.
Key variants: - Fairey Gannet AS Mk.1: original three-seat version for anti-submarine warfare; approximately 180 units produced. - Fairey Gannet T Mk.2: training version derived from the Mk.1, introduced in the mid-1950s. - Fairey Gannet AEW Mk.3: radar detection version; approximately 44 units produced, all of which served with Royal Navy Squadron 849. - Fairey Gannet AS Mk.4: new and more powerful version of the three-seat anti-submarine warfare variant; approximately 82 units produced. - Fairey Gannet T Mk.5: training version derived from the Mk.4.
Technical specifications
| Version: Gannet AEW.3 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 pilot + 2 radar operators |
| Operational range | 1127 km (700 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 417 km/h (259 mph) |
| Wing area | 44.9 m² (483.3 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 16.6 m (54.5 ft) |
| Height | 5.1 m (16.8 ft) |
| Length | 13.4 m (44.0 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 7700 m (25262 ft) |
| Empty weight | 7421 kg (16360 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 11340 kg (25000 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 1 × turboprop Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba 102 delivering 2890 kW |
Current operating countries
No country is operating the Gannet in 2025.
All operators
Photo of Gannet
