May I wade in on this thread, the last catapault launch from Ark Royal, and thus becoming the last British service conventional fixed-wing carrier take-off, was made by Fairey Gannet AEW.3 XL471. Can’t be more specific on date and time apart from Nov ’78.

No it wasn’t.

The last ever fixed wing cat launch was at 1511 hrs on 27th Nov 1978 by F4K 012, XT870 crewed by Flt.Lt M. MacLeod and Lt. D. McCallum.

However, a Gannet had the distinction of making the final fixed wing trap recovery on 18th Nov when Gannet 044, XL472, flown by Lt. Slade with Lt.Cdr Rotherham and Lt. Cass in the rear caught the wire. This Gannet is currently preserved at the Gatwick Aviation Museum.

See this link to the online Ark Royal commising book for details.

http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/arkroy27.pdf