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Fairey Gannet wing folding

The Gannet’s main wing folding was done hydraulically, I believe, but what was the secondary system? Was there a manual hydraulic back up, or some other system?

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By: SteveHill - 12th May 2022 at 20:07

Thanks for your help, everybody. The tech sheets are just what I needed,

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By: TerryP - 11th May 2022 at 11:09

Described below:

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By: TwinOtter23.Mk.19 - 11th May 2022 at 09:57

I was on site at Newark Air Museum back in 1983 when their Gannet AEW3 was delivered & offloaded by MARTSU. The wings were unfolded using a handpump by different members of the delivery team.

As I recall this mechanism was located somewhere in the rear fuselage. 

I wrote an article on the move for FlyPast but I do not have a copy immediately available to see whether this procedure was mentioned.

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By: Trolley Aux - 11th May 2022 at 09:50

I am sure the Gannet that was in the Historic Air Museum Southend wings were folded manually, how I know not but possibly a winder

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By: Creaking Door - 9th May 2022 at 12:03

I don’t know, but at an educated guess I would say an on-board hand-pump (and about 50,000 cycles) to fold the wings! This seems to be the preferred option for a back-up for most military hydraulic systems (from aircraft to 155mm howitzers).

Other options could include compressed-gas (nitrogen?) from on-board bottles although this is more usual for emergency lowering of undercarriage (and is probably a bit ‘all or nothing’ for the more delicate operation of wing-folding)?

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