("Dylan Smith" wrote)
But they have also, without a doubt, made the ugliest aircraft of all
time as well - the Fairey Gannet. It is so ugly, it transcends ugliness.
When they added the AEW stuff it made an ugly aircraft even uglier
(especially with the rear cockpit, it gives the plane a sort of look of
being a bizarre cross between a camel and a pregnant whale)

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.../gallery1.html


http://www.midwaysailor2.com/amjet/gannet.html
This one, XT752 mentioned in the (below) story, was owned by Polar Aviation
Museum at ANE (Anoka County-Blaine, MN). It was loud!! I was over at the
airport the day they were getting it ready for the ferry flight back to the
UK. It didn't leave when it was scheduled - delays. Then one day it was
gone, so I missed its departure.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gannet/survivorspics3.html#XT752
"XT752 was one of three Gannets kept in excellent condition by the FAA, and
was sold to the Polar Aviation Museum in the US. On arrival there the
aircraft was reassembled, restored to airworthiness and displayed on the
airshow circuit, regularly stopping crowds who had no idea what this strange
machine was! Sadly the museum has closed its doors to visitors and the
aircraft was put up for sale shortly afterwards - but the silver lining to
this cloud was that XT752 was planning to come back to the UK - as a flier!
An attempt to fly it back to the UK met with problems, getting only as far
as Goose Bay in Canada with the accompanying engineer believing that an
engine replacement would be necessary. The owner has had an in-depth
engineering assessment of the aircraft carried out - this found several
serious defects apparently not found by the previous engineer could have
caused the loss of the aircraft. These have now been rectified and another
assessment of the engine is underway to see if it really does need
replacing. Watch this space for more news! Information current as of
23/07/2005."

http://ipmstoronto.com/articles/aircraft/gannet/Index.htm
More pics of the old Polar Museum's Gannet.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/fairey.gannet/owners%20pics/moba.html
Polar Museum Gannet looked like the one in this pic

Loud and big!
http://www.warbirdalley.com/gannet.htm
"The Armstrong-Siddeley Double Mamba coupled turboprop engine boasted two
independent power sections driving separate propellers. After both sections
were used in the crucial take-off phase, one could be shut down to extend
range and patrol time. Additionally, the engine could refuel from its
aircraft carriers' own diesel fuel bunker, eliminating special aviation gas
tanks on board."


Montblack