Gannet AEW 3 XL474

DOES ANYONE HERE CAN PASS ME THE AVIONICS SUITE ABOARD THE GANNET AEW.3?

Hello! I would like to know the electronics components which form the avionics suite aboard the Gannet AEW.3. Someone can tell me about?;)

Brian,

Thanks for this update.

I have heard that the book you mention is an excellent source of info – think I’ll have to add it to my Christmas list!!

All the best

Nick

Nick, this information extracted from ‘ Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft since 1946’ (Air- Britain ) Ray Sturtivant with Mick Burrow and Lee Howard. An excellent reference book, the result of many years research.
Sadly, the crash did involve loss of life.

“Demonstration for RN Staff Course Yeovilton, flaps failed to lower, crashed during recovery from stall 1/2m NE of Yeovilton, Cat ZZ 29.6.72 (Lt AE Trudgett killed and L/C JE Nash injured)”

Brian

XL474 , coded LM-762 stalled and crashed into trees during a display at Yeovilton in June 1972, thereafter sent to Lee-on-Solent Mobile Aircraft Repair Transport Salvage Unit in July, but relegated to scrap January 1973 and struck off records.
XL 494 , still coded LM, struck its starboard wing on the Jumbo deck crane, and was reduced to spares and produce,i.e. cannibalised in October 1978 at Gibraltar.The fuselage shell languished in a scrap compound at Gib, and was struck off charge on 25th October 1978 🙁

Hi BMS44

Do you have anymore info on the crash of XL474 – i.e. where exactly at Yeovilton it happened and if the crew got out ok etc?

Many thanks

Nick

XL474 , coded LM-762 stalled and crashed into trees during a display at Yeovilton in June 1972, thereafter sent to Lee-on-Solent Mobile Aircraft Repair Transport Salvage Unit in July, but relegated to scrap January 1973 and struck off records.
XL 494 , still coded LM, struck its starboard wing on the Jumbo deck crane, and was reduced to spares and produce,i.e. cannibalised in October 1978 at Gibraltar.The fuselage shell languished in a scrap compound at Gib, and was struck off charge on 25th October 1978 🙁

I’ll have to try and track down the photo I took at the time (with a 110) could have sworn it was XL474!

Sorry – I think I might have made a little mistake here – it was XL494 that had the incident with Ark’s superstructure NOT XL474.

See below:

F9443 XL474 Gannet AEW3 d/d 03/02/1960, w/o 29/06/1972

F9453 XL494 Gannet AEW3 d/d 26/08/1960, w/o 14/09/1978, scr. Gibraltar 02/1981

http://www.aviationimages.net/united_kingdom_list.htm
They mention these particular planes:
F. Gannet AEW.3 XL474 / 762-LM light/dark gray T ’72 (hmc)
F. Gannet AEW.3 XL479 / 762-LM light/dark gray ‘7? (hmc)
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1022455/

Martin

Thanks for that – its been bugging me for years

I think this is the Gannet that hit part of the Ark’s structure on its last cruise/tour of duty? As there were only a few months of active service left remaining the decision was taken to strip the airframe of all useable parts and then crane her off the ship when harboured at Gibraltar.

I think the pilot that ‘clobbered’ the carrier in this a/c was Lt Hugh Slade but I’m not positive of this. This incident is mentioned in the 1999 book ‘HMS Ark Royal’.

As a big Gannet fan, I too would love to see some pics of this a/c!