Gannet AEW3's
 

Morning All,

Just wondered if we have any ex-Gannet drivers on this forum and if so would they be willing to share stories & pics etc?

Here's hoping!

All the best

Nick

sorry can't help nick...but just want to say i fondly recall the sound they made from the contra rotating props...

good luck with your post...:ok:

Gannet Drivers
 

Just chanced on this elderly request!

Yes, I was a Gannet driver, from May '64 to July '68. Flew briefly from Ark Royal but mainly from Centaur and Hermes.

Retired, still remarkably busy, but happy to supply info, pictures etc. within reason.

Mike

You mean one of these!

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...psy4hjygez.jpg

http://http://i954.photobucket.com/a...psy4hjygez.jpg

Gannet AEW3
 

Being picky, we're talking about these:

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...Pk_eKZ0wYVDCE1

It is certainly a plane I want to hear one day!

I knew a once FAA pilot who assured me that a Gannet was the most efficient converter of AVTUR to noise yet devised.

As opposed to The JP that was variable noise constant thrust.. ;)

I re-fuelled some that passed through Istres.

So I must qualify as the least knowledgeable of all that touched one.

Re. Gannets
 

OK, I flew both. The first is the A/S version, later converted to a trainer, the T5 (instructor in the 2nd cockpit), the one with the bulge is the AEW3.

Both a delight to fly, despite the AS4/T5's tendency to shake, rattle but NOT roll, I enjoyed both and was frankly grateful for the AEW3's sedate 95 knot approach to the carrier deck.

Despite being retired still fairly busy. Will post more info for those interested later (how do I insert one of my own photos? It doesn't have a URL?). Meanwhile, a US- group have restored a T5 to flying condition, just Google "Janet the Gannet".

Mike ex-849 Squadron (1964/1968)

commander richard pickles told me a story about him pulling up on stand at an american base in england,and as a mere joke folded the wings of his gannet.
upon disembarking from the contraption, he was asked by the first american:
hey boy, did you build that yourself?
Sir richard was not amused.

Gannets - WestRaynham
 

I remember Gannets being flown quite energetically over the field
behing our house at West Raynham. Also the Gannet which managed
to attack the engine rep's car rather viciously.
John

I think that in the early 60s they had some Gannets on the RN trials squadron at Watton, before the RN and RAF trials units were transmogrified into 360 RN/RAF) Sqn.

You're right, WanderOO. They were AS4's.

Mike

Night-time Bail-out
 

Not an AEW 3, but a great read:

http://www.aeroclocks.com/images/pic...20OCT%2007.pdf

Gannet Driver

Get yourself a photobucket account that will enable you to post pictures from your computer to PPRUNE. It is fairly straightforward but if you have any difficulty PM me and I will fill you in with the technique.

I was part of the Wessex night planeguard crew on the Ark when this Gannet landed on and went down the deck in a shower of sparks and straight over the front of the angled deck into the sea - he'd snapped his nosewheel leg and missed the wires as a result. It was a rough night and the deck was pitching a lot. Gannet Driver will know the crew - who all got out okay. Pilot MJ and observers MR and MC. 10 May 1966.

That was a bad day for the Ark - on the same date one of 890 Sqn's Sea Vixens went in after a double engine failure, with the loss of the observer who was unable to eject. Pilot was awarded the George Medal for his efforts to save his crew member.

Yes that was an interesting time for me as I was scrambled earlier in the day whilst AT was unsuccessfully trying to hook up to the Scimitar tanker after the fuel loss due to the engine problems. The SAR Flight Whirlwind was also on his way but I beat him to it being faster - if I remember correctly the Vixen crashed about 40 miles from Ark. Sadly as you say the Observer couldn't eject - due to a faulty seat/hatch mechanism.

I'm sure there used to be a sticky on PPrune somewhere that gave you instructions, but I can't find it.

However if you look at post #6 in this thread it gives you some tips.
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...te-flying.html