Fairey Gannet AEW.3 XL500 History
4th February 2012: Arrived at St Athan with HFL for ongoing restoration to fly.
27th July 2008: Arrived at Exeter with Hunter Flying Limited for restoration to fly on behalf of owner Mark Stott.
9th January 2004: Arrived at North Weald with Kennet Aviation, and registered as G-KAEW.
23th February 2000: Arrived at Chatham Historic Dockyard for static public display.
5th July 1995: Arrived at RNAS Culdrose as 849 Squadron mascot and gate guardian.
28th February 1985: To RNAS Lee on Solent, Hampshire, for Long Term Storage (LTS).
19th September 1983: First flight after being made airworthy for Dowty Rotol flight testing.
21st November 1978: 11.36 hrs, 2 1/2 hr flight duration, arrived at Culdrose AHU for storage, to School of Aircraft Handling (SAH) dummy deck as A.2701 (DM engine as E.4755).
November 1978: Fairey Gannet retired from Royal Navy service with 849 Squadron at Lossiemouth.
1st December 1974: Back to 849 Sqn HQ Flt Lossiemouth, coded as ‘766-LM’, nose code removed by August 1977.
December 1972: To 849 Sqn B Flt, coded as ‘042-R’, operating from HMS Ark Royal.
18th October 1972: HRH Prince Charles is passenger for a 1 ½ hour flight from RNAS Yeovilton.
14th January 1972: To 849 Sqn HQ Flt Lossiemouth, coded as ‘766-LM’.
30th June 1971: Back to Lossiemouth with NASU.
14th April 1971: To Westland at Ilchester for work.
13th November 1970: To 849 Squadron, now moved and based at RNAS Lossiemouth.
15th December 1969: Fairey/Westland at Hayes for checks, back to Ilchester.
20th November 1969: Westland Ilchester for modernisation and respray.
21st February 1968: 849 Sqn HQ Flt Brawdy, coded as ‘767-BY’.
27th April 1966: To 849 Sqn B Flt, coded as ‘332-H’, operating aboard HMS Hermes.
17th April 1966: To RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, NASU.
11th December 1964: To Fairey/Westland Aircraft, Ilchester and Hayes, for modernisation and respray.
19 December 1963 – 13 January 1964: Spell of Short Term Storage (STS) at Culdrose.
11th September 1963: To 849 Sqn HQ Flt Culdrose as ‘414’.
18th April 1963: To Fairey at White Waltham for rectification work.
2nd April 1962: Back to 849 Sqn HQ Flt Culdrose, coded as ‘417’.
1st February 1962: To Fairey at White Waltham for de-icing system modifications.
23rd October 1961: Back to 849 Squadron Culdrose.
13th October 1961: To NAIRU at Lee on Solent, Hampshire, for instruments and radio mods.
18th March 1961: Issued to 849 Squadron Headquarters Flight, Culdrose, coded as ‘414’.
9th March 1961: Delivered to the Royal Navy at RDU RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall.
2nd February 1961: First flight performed at Faireys’ White Waltham, Buckinghamshire.
January 1961: Fairey Gannet F.9459, serialled XL500, completed at Fairey Aviation Co., Hayes, Middlesex, and taken by road to White Waltham.
27th July 2008: Arrived at Exeter with Hunter Flying Limited for restoration to fly on behalf of owner Mark Stott.
9th January 2004: Arrived at North Weald with Kennet Aviation, and registered as G-KAEW.
23th February 2000: Arrived at Chatham Historic Dockyard for static public display.
5th July 1995: Arrived at RNAS Culdrose as 849 Squadron mascot and gate guardian.
28th February 1985: To RNAS Lee on Solent, Hampshire, for Long Term Storage (LTS).
19th September 1983: First flight after being made airworthy for Dowty Rotol flight testing.
21st November 1978: 11.36 hrs, 2 1/2 hr flight duration, arrived at Culdrose AHU for storage, to School of Aircraft Handling (SAH) dummy deck as A.2701 (DM engine as E.4755).
November 1978: Fairey Gannet retired from Royal Navy service with 849 Squadron at Lossiemouth.
1st December 1974: Back to 849 Sqn HQ Flt Lossiemouth, coded as ‘766-LM’, nose code removed by August 1977.
December 1972: To 849 Sqn B Flt, coded as ‘042-R’, operating from HMS Ark Royal.
18th October 1972: HRH Prince Charles is passenger for a 1 ½ hour flight from RNAS Yeovilton.
14th January 1972: To 849 Sqn HQ Flt Lossiemouth, coded as ‘766-LM’.
30th June 1971: Back to Lossiemouth with NASU.
14th April 1971: To Westland at Ilchester for work.
13th November 1970: To 849 Squadron, now moved and based at RNAS Lossiemouth.
15th December 1969: Fairey/Westland at Hayes for checks, back to Ilchester.
20th November 1969: Westland Ilchester for modernisation and respray.
21st February 1968: 849 Sqn HQ Flt Brawdy, coded as ‘767-BY’.
27th April 1966: To 849 Sqn B Flt, coded as ‘332-H’, operating aboard HMS Hermes.
17th April 1966: To RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, NASU.
11th December 1964: To Fairey/Westland Aircraft, Ilchester and Hayes, for modernisation and respray.
19 December 1963 – 13 January 1964: Spell of Short Term Storage (STS) at Culdrose.
11th September 1963: To 849 Sqn HQ Flt Culdrose as ‘414’.
18th April 1963: To Fairey at White Waltham for rectification work.
2nd April 1962: Back to 849 Sqn HQ Flt Culdrose, coded as ‘417’.
1st February 1962: To Fairey at White Waltham for de-icing system modifications.
23rd October 1961: Back to 849 Squadron Culdrose.
13th October 1961: To NAIRU at Lee on Solent, Hampshire, for instruments and radio mods.
18th March 1961: Issued to 849 Squadron Headquarters Flight, Culdrose, coded as ‘414’.
9th March 1961: Delivered to the Royal Navy at RDU RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall.
2nd February 1961: First flight performed at Faireys’ White Waltham, Buckinghamshire.
January 1961: Fairey Gannet F.9459, serialled XL500, completed at Fairey Aviation Co., Hayes, Middlesex, and taken by road to White Waltham.
XL500 was one of 44 Fairey Gannet AEW. 3 aircraft completed for a Royal Navy requirement for a carrier based Airborne Early Warning aircraft.
The AEW Mk.3 variant was derived from the existing Anti-Submarine (AS.1 & 4) and Trainer (T.2 & 5) versions of the Fairey Gannet, but required a major fuselage redesign, the two radar observers now being enclosed in a cabin within the rear fuselage structure.
The innovative Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ‘coupled’ powerplant was retained, each turbine engine driving its own propeller through a common gearbox, this provided for twin engined power, while also allowing for single engine economy in cruise and search flight.
It was a sophisticated aircraft for the era, providing radar coverage for the fleet by using its large AN/APS-20 radar for search, and relaying the screen information via its ‘Bellhop’ datalink system to the parent aircraft carrier where the controllers aboard could direct fighter aircraft against any threatening activity.
The Gannet AEW.3 entered service with 700G trials unit in August 1959, which became front-line as 849 A Flight in March 1960. It would equip 849 squadrons’ A, B, C, D, and Headquarters Flights and operated aboard HMS Centaur, Hermes, Victorious, Eagle, and Ark Royal, as well as Royal Naval Air Stations Culdrose, Brawdy, and Lossiemouth, it remained in service until November 1978.
The Fairey Aviation Co. was absorbed by Westland Aircraft in Somerset during 1960.
James Thomas
The AEW Mk.3 variant was derived from the existing Anti-Submarine (AS.1 & 4) and Trainer (T.2 & 5) versions of the Fairey Gannet, but required a major fuselage redesign, the two radar observers now being enclosed in a cabin within the rear fuselage structure.
The innovative Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ‘coupled’ powerplant was retained, each turbine engine driving its own propeller through a common gearbox, this provided for twin engined power, while also allowing for single engine economy in cruise and search flight.
It was a sophisticated aircraft for the era, providing radar coverage for the fleet by using its large AN/APS-20 radar for search, and relaying the screen information via its ‘Bellhop’ datalink system to the parent aircraft carrier where the controllers aboard could direct fighter aircraft against any threatening activity.
The Gannet AEW.3 entered service with 700G trials unit in August 1959, which became front-line as 849 A Flight in March 1960. It would equip 849 squadrons’ A, B, C, D, and Headquarters Flights and operated aboard HMS Centaur, Hermes, Victorious, Eagle, and Ark Royal, as well as Royal Naval Air Stations Culdrose, Brawdy, and Lossiemouth, it remained in service until November 1978.
The Fairey Aviation Co. was absorbed by Westland Aircraft in Somerset during 1960.
James Thomas
