Fairey Gannet AEW3 G-BMYP ex XL502 piloted by Neil Moffatt at Finningley Airshow 19 Sept 1987

New complete & re-mastered version.
Served with 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy from 1961 to 1978 bought by Neil Moffatt in 1986 & flown by him until the Gannet was retired.

[@richardholroyd1989]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder .I consider them beautiful along with Wyvern

[@richardholroyd1989]

My dad was stationed at RNAS Ford ( near Littlehampton Sussex) early 50s.. he flew in Skyraiders and Fireflys. They then changed to Gannets and Wyverns. You would hear them coming miles away by their distinctive whinning sound. Looking back they were magnificent a/c. Would pull a crowd into the street if they flew over today Y

[@Spawn-td8bf]

When hunting subs in that era, this was a most capable , if not attractive , aircraft. Pretty didn't get the job done. Thanks for posting an aircraft few people have heard of or appreciated. She did her job well. God Bless.

[@michaelhannah4472]

sadly people didn't understand the concept of the double mamba engine this thing could shut down 1 engine and cruise for eternity

[@1Dave0Mustaine1]

@@michaelhannah4472 but even with 1 engine shut down, the fuel consumption wasn't improved. Still, a beautifu and capable plane, both versions are amazing.

[@lion.42]

GOD BLESS YOU TOO , YOUR FAMILLY AND EVERYONE IN A NAME OF JESUS CHRIST !☺🤗

[@chrismerkel9604]

Thanks for posting video. Never heard of this aircraft. Love seeing the British designs. Albany, NY USA

[@alansimpson596]

A touch of nostalgia here for me. I grew up in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and being the most westerly part of the UK we had four Second World War airbases along Lough Foyle. When the war ended two of these were closed down but RAF Ballykelly remained open and in the 1960s Shackeltons were based there and about 10 miles further along was the Royal Naval Fleet Air base at Eglinton where Gannets were based. They inspired me to gain my private pilots licence in the 1970s and by that time Eglinton was no longer a service air base but belonged to the City of Derry flying club. I visited it a few times on training exercises and one had to overfly it at 500 feet so as an alert for the local farmer to move his sheep off the runways. It's since been developed as the City of Derry regional airport and can take Boeing 737s

[@1tothirtysix]

Glad you enjoyed the vid,regards

[@nor0845]

Prop/s always looked too small for the plane 🙂. Last time I saw one was, fittingly, at HMS Gannet, Prestwick many moons ago. Good footage, Thanks for posting.

[@Wotdermatter]

Often flew in them when serving in the Royal Navy. Among their regular patrol duties, they picked up and dropped off our mail, delivered really sick personnel to shore, and much more. Ugly, yes, but sturdy, reliable, and did a great job.

[@britsh_weather_has_bipolar8199]

And surprisingly fast believe it or not, about 400 knots at full chat, despite all the lumps and bumps.

[@britsh_weather_has_bipolar8199]

Surprisingly fast too I understand?

[@scopex2749]

OMG when i was in the RAF as an airframe tech we used to get these come in for refuels AWESOME aircraft and such a brilliant design. WHY did we throw away the British aircraft industry we used to lead the world now we are NOTHING 😪we give the Americans all our good aircraft which they then improve, are we MENTAL? The trusty Harrier, the TSR2 and many others all gone. 🤷🏻‍♂️ OI PILOT you only have one fan on!

[@scottsrfun]

Good old American ingenuity , they still from my Idea's then claim I'm insane for trying to collect on some of them.

[@Drankovich]

What an ugly beautifully functional machine. Truly a golden age of the Fleet Air Arm.

[@TheIhredpower]

Thank you for sharing this video of this amazing aircraft. I have always been a fan of it, it's mission was one only a plane like it could do. Cheers!

[@fredtedstedman]

Could have done with a couple on Hermes during the Falklands !

[@GeeBeeMike]

I’m pretty certain my father helped Neil get the engine all wired up for this aircraft when it was in Leuchars in Scotland. Seem to remember he may have also helped install the props after overhaul. I remember him telling me about it many years ago. It’s a large ungainly looking beast that’s for sure but impressive none-the-less.

[@michaelhannah4472]

Awesome plane my first flight was a Gannet COD off Victorious 1967 raffle prize

[@gunsaway1]

What an interesting aircraft. Turboprops were more efficient that the early jets. Look at the P3. Still flying. C130. Still flying

[@svartmetall]

See also the Tu-95 Bear...

[@techmaniac43]

Being ugly is what makes this place beautiful.

[@Querencias7]

Exactly. One beautiful beast and terrific engineering design.

[@Larrikins54]

Computer Addic your theory that a 'turbo-prop with two propellers' was out of date in 1961 would explain while the P3 Orion (4 engine turbo prop) is still flying 55 years later as a maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. Also the Russian Bear - I include that because it has contra rotating propeller. As one of the pother correspondents points out endurance is more important than speed when doing the work they do. Having an informed opinion is different to just having an opinion. The Gannet has effectively two engines and could presumably loiter on one. I think the RN RAN and RCN all used them - maybe others.

[@craigs71]

I was most likely there, I lived in Mexborough at the time (I would have been 15 years old at the time of the airshow).

[@korolev-musictodriveby6583]

Just so you know , this handsome beast also ran on its carrier’s diesel fuel !

[@korolev-musictodriveby6583]

MusicMadMaurice - Very few . Kerosene is a lighter form of diesel , but I’m not a scientist . I do , however , make mad music !

[@jjmcrosbie]

To all those cretins whose only comment is to call this aircraft ugly: 1 - It was instrumental in keeping world peace and so kept you safe. 2 - Try and either grow up or refrain from asinine comment.

[@fredtedstedman]

6:26 glad he remembered to switch the second prop on !!

[@philipbrailey]

I saw the fairly gannets fly at Camden Sir Show NSW in approx 1962.

[@shanek6582]

I’d assume there’d be too much turbulence behind the first propeller for the second one to get a good bite, guess not. That’s a cool looking plane.

[@damiendavis5151]

Mate the best bits have been edited out.

[@stephengardiner9867]

That aircraft is so damn ugly that it is impressive. It reminds me of the American actor Richard Boone. Well, ugly or not, it was designed to put a whole lot of hurt on USSR submarines, not dogfight. As a dedicated ASW platform, it may well have outperformed other country's conversions. In a way it is sad that it never got a chance to prove it's capabilities, BUT that would have meant WW III. Best that she never had to do so. Great to see such a beast still flying. Keep her in one piece.

[@gertbonk7075]

How come all air show videos show them staring at the plane for an hour on the ground?

[@maxflight777]

Neil is an absolute gent. I've been fortunate to fly with him a few times. A privilege.

[@pikeywyatt]

an other one much underrated.thank,s

[@ianwilkinson4602]

They may not be graceful but they are beautiful. A real business like aircraft.

[@Paiadakine]

What a beast of an airplane. Looks nice in a fugly way.

[@rubensflorentino548]

Gosh ...and the brits are well know for making beautiful airplanes....

[@andydunnock8114]

+Rubens Junior LOL, this one was purely practical. The best you could say is that it has "character"...

[@benters3509]

Designed as a turbine replacement for the Skyraider. Actually a very good aircraft!

[@vascoribeiro69]

Nothing can replace the Skyrider...

[@jjmcrosbie]

@@vascoribeiro69 Señor, Tienes razón, no reemplazó a un Skyraider: reemplazó el PAR de Skyraiders que realizó el papel "Seek and Strike". El Seek Skyraider llevaba un radomo de apariencia similar, el Strike Skyraider llevaba el arma antisubmarina. Solía ​​ver esto cuando estaba en la escuela. Mantenerse bien. Saludos. Clive. Sir, You're right, it didn't replace a Skyraider: it replaced the PAIR of Skyraiders which performed the "Seek and Strike" rôle. The Seek Skyraider carried a radome of similar appearance, the Strike Skyraider carried the anti-submarine weapon. I used to see these when I was at school. Stay well. Regards, Clive.

[@benters3509]

Could do extended patrols by shutting down one engine, feathering one propeller and flying on the other one.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

An astonishing aircraft.

[@Backpacker1uk]

18 dislikes muppet family must be watching

[@woolleysox]

G

[@deeremeyer1753]

Or maybe its just because they spent 8 minutes watching that piece of shit taxi 80 feet.

[@barrierodliffe4155]

@@deeremeyer1753 One of the Muppet's was bound to comment.

[@rivco5008]

if somehow this airplane had been present during the Falklands War fewer British sailors would've died & fewer ships would've been lost.

[@TheDarwiniser]

+Californian ..... care to elaborate?

[@daniel1982641]

I can imagine especially when working together with Royal Navy Phantoms. The F-4's powerful radar could've tracked Argentine fighters and shoot them down with Skyflash medium range radar guided missiles or get into a close quarter dogfight using AIM-9L Sidewinders at the time. I think the Royal Navy made a big mistake retiring their conventional aircraft carriers like the HMS Ark Royal for example, but I guess it was due to government budgets or something.

[@deeremeyer1753]

And if ifs and butts were candy and nuts we'd all have a merry Christmas. Unfortunately you took a bunch of POS Harriers down there and lost a pile of them and a pile of helicopters and several ships. Status quo ante bellum was the result and somehow you STILL claim "victory".

[@johnkelinske1449]

And the Falklands belong to Argentina then?

[@1chish]

Oh look its that Yank Mr Deeremeyer peddling his anti-British shit that has the square root of fuck all to do with fact. Those 'POS Harriers' had an air kill ratio of 22 for 0, they had a 98% availability and the only losses were through ground fire, weather and accident. That is not a 'pile' even by the piles of crap you Yanks put out. Helicopters were re-supplying front line units in an amphibious assault on well defended positions and yet only 4 were lost 'in the air' so yes they lost some but not so many the re-supply failed. 7 were lost to accident / weather but the biggest loss of helicopters was from ships sunk (13 airframes) like the Atlantic Conveyer from which just one Chinook got off but only after all the spare Harriers got off before an Exocet hit. Yes we took aircraft down in a container ship! Beat that Yank. So out of 172 Helos operated some 24 were lost. The only 'pile' here is your pile of crap and Yank bullshit. Your Pentagon said it couldn't be done by the UK and they would need 6 months to prepare a carrier group and USMC combat force of 40,000 men. It began on Friday 2 April 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, returning the islands to British control. We organised a Task Force in 2 weeks and did it with about 10,000 people. The difference is we are the fucking BEST people! So shove your 'MURICAAA' up your fat arse...

[@PhilippeRR1]

I seem to remember... For anti-submarine warfare, the British had the Fairey Gannet and the French had the Breguet Alize... (a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...).

[@jjmcrosbie]

Oui Philippe, tout à fait. Mais les bons Français ont toujours un Alizé en état de vol! Moteur un seul turbine type RR Dart et une seule hélice. The good French still have an Alizé flying - single RR Dart turboprop, single propeller. Alizé is French for "Trade wind".

[@timw6928]

Marvellous aircraft did it's job rolls perfectly and those engines could often be a life and plane saver one goes down you still have the other and as for looks , there gorgeous

[@jimmyohara2601]

They're, not over there dopey 😐

[@timw6928]

@@jimmyohara2601 over where

[@jimmyohara2601]

@@timw6928 Nowhere. a lesson for the dummies (being you, Not Ewe🐑). They're in Their aircraft over There. get the idea ?? dopey 🤤

[@timw6928]

@@jimmyohara2601 your a complete twat what's wrong with you

[@jimmyohara2601]

@@timw6928 You're, stupid stoohpied 😬

[@storm1sandy764]

It's so ugly you have to love it.

[@johnwiesen4440]

It`s more better than what the Fleet Air Arm are using now off the new Queen Elizabeth ships, faster and higher longer mission time.

[@eduardosfilho5182]

VERY INTERESTING! It has the option to start, with the COUNTER-ROTATIVE, OFF! Very appropriate thing, for a "bird" EMBARKED!

[@McClenaghanSR]

Looks like the adult version of the GeeBee racers of the 1930s.

[@Archangel_exe]

That damn thing should be called a bee

[@gertbonk7075]

Why make a plane designed to fly 8 hour missions, and not give the pilot some access to a toilet?

[@eprn1n2]

There is no competition, this is the stangest airplane.

[@gilesguimbarde9305]

Never knew it had a turboprop.

[@taketimeout2share]

Great plane. Did its job very well and very cheaply. It did look as though it had testicular cancer and certainly wasn't pretty. But character is more important than looks...

[@CAL1MBO]

taketimeout2 lmao

[@cshapes305]

Wow! Longest name for an airplane ever?

[@dufus7396]

Huge thing

[@Lesserthannone]

What a plane!

[@garethbarnes3680]

that looks a lot of plane to throw around

[@christianscazzieri]

Steampunkest aircraft ever, I love the Gannet.

[@hughgordon6435]

Was the gannet populous started or cartridge started on board?

[@keegan773]

There's a lot,of fools here displaying their ignorance.

[@jeffersonspace]

Wonderful airship. Everyone please listen to tJohn Hartford's "Steam Powered Aereoplane" God save the Queen, and all the rest of us blokes too!

[@stevengrotte2987]

A very large airplane, especially for a carrier, is it bigger than the Skyraiders that we used in Vietnam?

[@carterstokoe1479]

very much so. 3 seat ASW

[@rbtruckman]

+Carter Stokoe A1 Skyraider were also 3 seaters

[@wmfife1]

+Robert Ruckman As a mod designated A-1E. Original design was single seat.

[@jjmcrosbie]

The Gannet replaced PAIRS of Skyraiders, the "Seek" and "Strike" pair. I saw these fly when I was at school.

[@PhilippeRR1]

Was the plane's engine known as "Double Mamba"?

[@jphar]

+Philippe Renaud It most certainly was. I was in the RAF in the '50's.

[@PhilippeRR1]

+jphar HURRAY for the heroic RAF (and I mean it from the heart)! Quite a transition period you saw! Props to jets by way of turbo-props! Aside from the GANNET, what did you fly? Out of curiosity, did you see any action in KOREA, MALAYSIA, SUEZ or anywhere else? SUEZ, I know, was mostly Royal Navy Air Force. If you were land based, you might not have been sent to SUEZ... but then I do not know how the separation of arms and departments worked in the UK, and you have everything to teach me!

[@jphar]

+Philippe Renaud Hello Phillippe, I did 2 years 1957 to 1959 National Service, qualified as a radar fitter, and worked on the 'talk down' GCA radar, planes being talked down in bad visibility. I stayed in England for the 2 years on a station with Hunters and Javelins.

[@PhilippeRR1]

+jphar That was fascinating work you did! GCA radar... planes being talked down in bad visibility. You were involved in life saving missions! Hunters and Javelins... I remember those from the reading I used to do. Was the Javelin not a delta wing aircraft?

[@jphar]

+Philippe Renaud hi Philippe, Yes, a twin engined high tailed delta. It had two Armstrong Siddely Sapphires and if I remember correctly was just sub-sonic

[@duggiebader1798]

If it looks right it flies right.... oh

[@mattsta1964]

Hideous and engineering art at the same time

[@spiritoftungchung]

Must be a turboprop. There was an air start hose on the engine.

[@jphar]

+Adolfo Pedregosa Yes contra-rotating.

[@gavinbainbridge6512]

So ugly, they were beautiful, an example of form fits function, did a job and did it well, shame there are no airworthy examples😢

[@ValdemarZemelka]

0_o i think he crying "PLEASE KILL MEEEE"

[@zerocta1]

I think it's pregnant

[@dorsetdumpling5387]

Piles

[@damienmcc6328]

That is a seriously ugly aeroplane I can only hope that it flew better than it looked?

[@henrikcarlsen1881]

It's so ugly.

[@1972unit]

убогий самолет

[@mathewmcgill6266]

Looks like it has cancer.

[@richardlevy8699]

That was a waste of time. Always thought the thing was ugly. And wtf with the erratic braking actions? I'm sure it flew ok with those huge counter rotating props in the pilots face.

[@justcheck6645]

Unless you are talking about the video, I have seen better, you have no idea what you are talking about. It does not matter what it looked like - did it work? It sure did! It was a very effective submarine and aew aircraft. It had a huge bomb, bay, could carry a significant ordnance load, and had good endurance. It was designed for a purpose and fulfilled its role efficiently. It was highly reliable and don't forget this was a carrier borne aircraft. I was lucky enough to get a flight in one of the AEW versions, as an observer. An experience i will never forget.

[@NoTaboos]

Quite boring.

[@computeraddic675]

What a ugly airplane!And turboprop with two propellers still in 1961?Everyone else had a jet engine!

[@1tothirtysix]

stupid or what

[@MavHunter20XX]

+1tothirtysix or what, the skyraider had a radial engine and worked up to Vietnam. It held until the A-10

[@computeraddic675]

Well,maybe thats the reason the US failed in Vietnam?

[@MavHunter20XX]

+Computer Addic No, we had everything we need. It was mostly because the US lost faith in what they were doing there. If they would have held on like in Korea and understood what was at steak, then a lot of lives would have been saved, but instead politics got involved and we couldn't fight the way the conventional way.

[@computeraddic675]

No!The Vietgong were to smart to get defeated.Because the whole North Vietnam were one against the Americans.You can't defeat a country in that state.We have seen this in Afghanistan too..