Gatwick Fairey Gannet AEW.3

Wyvernfan, sorry for the delay in replying.

Yes, I believe that our S.1. is the only one capable of running, and yes they are Gyron Juniors.
The port engine has a large crack in the compressor casing so it doesn’t get lit often! The starbd engine has quite a lot of vibration, although that was fitted by us a few years ago. The original was seized solid. We do have another spare in the engine shed, but I think that may have a few bits missing.

As for taxying, well very unlikely, the nose wheel needs replacing now. We have been promised a new one but haven’t seen it yet. I wouldn’t put it beyond the bounds of possibility, but!!!!

Correct Peter, it is the only ground running S.1 in the world, the only other one that could run again is XK532, but not without a huge amount of work.

The nose wheel is now with us, so you should see it within the next month, Milt knows all about it.

Sadly the Gannet is not runnable, it’s had no real done work on it for many years. It has never been run since it arrived, as far as I’m aware. It needs a lot of work, one prop blade from the rear set (I think!) has the tip broken off.

Shame given this airframe’s significant historic status as the very last fixed wing a/c to trap on a conventional cat ‘n’ trap RN aircraft carrier, when she made the last ever landing on HMS Ark Royal on 18th Nov 1978.

Wyvernfan, sorry for the delay in replying.

Yes, I believe that our S.1. is the only one capable of running, and yes they are Gyron Juniors.
The port engine has a large crack in the compressor casing so it doesn’t get lit often! The starbd engine has quite a lot of vibration, although that was fitted by us a few years ago. The original was seized solid. We do have another spare in the engine shed, but I think that may have a few bits missing.

As for taxying, well very unlikely, the nose wheel needs replacing now. We have been promised a new one but haven’t seen it yet. I wouldn’t put it beyond the bounds of possibility, but!!!!

Thanks Peter, i thought that was the case but just needed confirmation.

Also am i right in thinking that your Buccaneer S.1 is the only remaining example with working Dehavilland Gyron Junior engines.?
Also could it be made taxiable or is that not feasable given the limited space you have to move aircraft in.?!

Sadly the Gannet is not runnable, it’s had no real done work on it for many years. It has never been run since it arrived, as far as I’m aware. It needs a lot of work, one prop blade from the rear set (I think!) has the tip broken off. We do have a spare Double Mamba in the engine shed, not sure what condition it’s in, probably better than the installed one, at least it’s been inside for many years.

You can add Sea Prince T1 to the list of runners, although due to lack of fuel it’s not run for a couple of years. Mind you, it’s only a tractor engine so will run on almost anything! Currently the starboard fuel c0ck operation is being reworked, the original Teleflex having jammed again! It’s being modified to an electrical system, the same mod we did on the port side a couple of years ago.

We hope to be adding to our runners list this year, the Hunter T7A is close to being ready for engine fitment.