After standing next to one at the Moorabbin Air Museum a number of years ago, I’d have to say the Fairey Gannet is pretty mean looking.

She’s a BIG girl… A squadron of these flying towards a ship at wave height would put the fear into me for sure…

The design was started in 1945 for the British Royal Navy’s Fleet Air arm, and first flew in 1949.

She was to serve on aircraft carriers for the anti submarine role initially. Powered by a 2,950 shaft horsepower double engine combination driving double, contra rotating props.

A pretty imposing aircraft… Too many carbs maybe?

Three crew members in seperate cockpits (pilot, observer, and electronics operator), the Gannet could carry a 2,850 lb weapon load. They were capable of carrying rockets, parachute flares, sonar buoys, 250 or 500lb bombs, depth charges and torpedoes.

The Gannet AEW3 served in the Airborne Early Warning role as well, finally retiring with th RN in 1978.

She was powered by two Armstrong Sideley Mamba turboprop engines (“Twin Mambas”) mounted side by side, driving one propellor each.

As well as the Royal Navy, they were mainly operated by Australia, West Germany and Indonesia.

These blokes would have to be Aussies… Just look at the beer gut, and strict adherence to uniform standards.

She was never pretty… But she was apparently well mannered to fly, and a stable weapons platform.

The Fairey Gannet. An intimidating looking aircraft!

If you like this ugly behemoth, please consider upvoting!