Gannet XA308 – MAM

That seems like a very reasonable assumption Albert, even now, looking back after so many years have passed. I must admit though I don’t know how much commonality existed with the various panels of the T and AS variants,certainly the bulge below the cockpits on the trainers was larger and more pronounced, but apart from that rather obvious difference many other parts/panels would have been interchangeable. Wonder if the inside of the different panels would have been stencilled at some stage in their service life with the aircraft serial and could thus solve the mystery? Would that be a possible task perhaps from someone nearer the present location of XA308? or maybe even a written request to the right source? [Am thoroughly enjoying this, but must sign off tonight.(I’ll probably drift off hearing of the bumble-bee drone of Mambas in full song in my head! (with any luck!)] I’ll look again in the morning. Brian

That’s a very interesting photo Albert, as closer scrutiny of the nose (above the day-glo panel) indicates another panel with grey and sky colours, and the top half of a number (possibly ‘7’ ) nose code.This grey/sky scheme was most definitely non-standard on the trainer type, the panel almost certainly having been taken (borrowed or otherwise acquired) from an AS variant.(When the Double Mamba power unit was removed from the aircraft for major servicing or an engine change, generally the split was made at the demarcation aft of the intakes (in other words the cowling section painted white on XA310) would be extracted from the fuselage with the entire engine(s) pod. At a training establishments (and on no-longer-flying aircraft) it would not be unusual for a replacement engine pod to be taken from another aircraft and inserted, similarly panels could be (and were) mixed up also. Obviously on front line units this practice would not be encouraged! As this aircraft was saved from the breakers it could well have been involved latterly in such actions as described. Brian

Indeed it is interesting. One train of thought – Yeovilton Museum’s Gannet COD.4, XA466 was operated from Lossiemouth during the ’70s in grey/sky and coded ‘777’. Perhaps, this was a panel from that machine, before they repainted it blue?

Gannet T.2 XA508

That’s a very interesting photo Albert, as closer scrutiny of the nose (above the day-glo panel) indicates another panel with grey and sky colours, and the top half of a number (possibly ‘7’ ) nose code.This grey/sky scheme was most definitely non-standard on the trainer type, the panel almost certainly having been taken (borrowed or otherwise acquired) from an AS variant.(When the Double Mamba power unit was removed from the aircraft for major servicing or an engine change, generally the split was made at the demarcation aft of the intakes (in other words the cowling section painted white on XA310) would be extracted from the fuselage with the entire engine(s) pod. At a training establishments (and on no-longer-flying aircraft) it would not be unusual for a replacement engine pod to be taken from another aircraft and inserted, similarly panels could be (and were) mixed up also. Obviously on front line units this practice would not be encouraged! As this aircraft was saved from the breakers it could well have been involved latterly in such actions as described. Brian

Hopefully attached is photo of XA508 post delivery/prior to first MAM repaint.
Have to admit I can’t tell from this pic whether it is silver or grey!

Roger Smith.

PS the delivery, by MARTSU, was by way of a deal in exchange for the loan of the Bleriot/Humber monoplane replica to the FAAM.

Here is my first shot of it at Yeovilton on 31st July 1982 before the move to MAM – definately SILVER! Also appears to have a replacement nose panel from a Gannet T.5 (with dayglo)

Re.Gannet T.2 XA508 and XA510

Here’s a shot of a sister aircraft, XA510, at the end of her flying career and nearing the end of her useful life as an instructional aircraft for training RN Artificers on airframes and engines at HMS “CONDOR”, RNAS Arbroath in 1963. At this stage all the onboard systems were still functional, engines were regularly run and wings folded on the internal hydraulics,and her ‘silver’ finish is still pristine.( She was to end her days some six years later at an Elgin scrapyard.) 🙁

Canberra WF922

For Les 🙂
In the process of re-assembly at MAM after arrival from Cambridge.
Although one of ‘my’ photos I don’t think I took it (perhaps one of my sons did) as I think thats me in the light shorts (t’was a hot day).

Roger Smith.

WOW that’s the first time I’ve managed to post a pic!!!
RPS

Good one! Now all things are possible. 😉

Thanks for the pic. As you say, difficult to tell actual colour but it does look silver(ish).

bms44
Thanks for the gen, you obviously know your aircraft. Now if it were a Canberra . . . :rolleyes:

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Gannet XA308 – MAM

I’ll don my anorak to throw in my tuppence-worth!…the trainer versions of the Gannet in Royal Navy were always in aluminium finish, with standard yellow wing and fuselage bands until towards the end of their service, the introduction of the Red/Orange ‘day- glo’ paints, usually around tail and fin, (but not rudder) ,wing and nose.( a most unstable colour and subject to extreme and variable fading.) These variants were never in the extra dark sea grey and sky scheme. (Whilst on the subject of Gannets, the Anti-Submarine variants, an error that has been perpetuated over the years by many illustrators is the continuation of the grey from the upper wing surface over the fuselage bulges over the exhaust outlets.They were always Sky, the Grey ended sharply at the wing roots and the anti-slip panels lay along the roots also.)
That having been said though,whist we’re still fortunate enough to have a Gannet to wander round and reminisce over, the impracticabilities of keeping it in an aluminium paint, particularly if it is outside, subject to our British weather can perhaps be overlooked if a light grey paint with more stable properties is applied to preserve the old lady.Check the Avatar, guys, guess who’s a Gannetophile! Is that a proper word? …Should be…!

WOW that’s the first time I’ve managed to post a pic!!!
RPS

Les, I reckon it was silver when first delivered all those years ago – but I may be wrong – will try and look out photos.
It’s first MAM repaint (this one must be the 3rd or 4th?) was done by Mick Abbey. I’m pretty sure it was Dulux and he rollered it in a single weekend.

Roger Smith.

Hopefully attached is photo of XA508 post delivery/prior to first MAM repaint.
Have to admit I can’t tell from this pic whether it is silver or grey!

Roger Smith.

PS the delivery, by MARTSU, was by way of a deal in exchange for the loan of the Bleriot/Humber monoplane replica to the FAAM.

OK RP. Bow to your experience there. I did say I was an interested bystander though, not a MAM expert. It’s just that I like the place and the people there. They also make a rather good tuna sandwich . . . 😉

Les, to introduce a bit of levity…
When the Pope visited and conducted a mass at Coventry Airport in 1982(?) a number of us stayed at the museum around the clock to ‘protect’ the collection from the hordes of the faithful descending on the airport.
Some of us camped, someone brought their caravan and someone else slept inside the Dove. Eating was done al fresco and somewhere there is a photo of me sitting at a camping table stuffing my face with a strategically repositioned aircraft sign in front. The sign? “Gannet” 😀 😀
Roger Smith.

I’m shure this nice machine will look superb in a new coat. It’s alwaysd a pleasure to notice the devotion of many people to keep this aircraft in good display condition. 🙂

Greets,
Stieglitz

OK RP. Bow to your experience there. I did say I was an interested bystander though, not a MAM expert. It’s just that I like the place and the people there. They also make a rather good tuna sandwich . . . 😉

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Albert, as I understand it, as an interested bystander, the scheme replicates as far as possible that which the Navy left it in.

Les, I reckon it was silver when first delivered all those years ago – but I may be wrong – will try and look out photos.
It’s first MAM repaint (this one must be the 3rd or 4th?) was done by Mick Abbey. I’m pretty sure it was Dulux and he rollered it in a single weekend.

Roger Smith.

Is it going to remain ‘grey’ for weather-protection purposes, although Gannets were never grey. This one should be silver with yellow training bands, or could possibly have been in the standard Gannet scheme of extra dark sea grey top and Sky Type S (duck egg green) undersides?

Albert, as I understand it, as an interested bystander, the scheme replicates as far as possible that which the Navy left it in. It is only on loan to MAM I believe and in the absence of cogent Navy wishes (or help) MAM are putting a “weather-protection” coat on it (as you correctly surmised).

And it really needed it Albert, ’twas a bit of a mess externally, scruffy with dings and dents – even more so in the cockpit and crew areas (some green mould etc). MAM know the thing should be silver really but at this stage, I’ve heard, they haven’t the time and manpower to produce a good enough silver paint finish. A silver paint scheme is very easy to get wrong unless there are good spray-bay and drying facilities, silver looks really naff if brushed or rollered on.

The idea of duck-egg green and dark grey was broached generally, not least by myself, but I understand no suitable (and readily available in sufficiency) paint could be uncovered within the resources afforded. Personally I would have liked to see it in those colours as that’s the way I “remember” Gannets, but it’s not to be at this time. If nothing else, MAM’s Gannet will have a “make-over” (as with the Hunter lately) which, hopefully, will see it through the next couple of years.

My own thoughts are that this airframe seems to be a lower priority than the Argosy in resource and manpower terms. I guess they have to slice their bread accordingly.

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Is it going to remain ‘grey’ for weather-protection purposes, although Gannets were never grey. This one should be silver with yellow training bands, or could possibly have been in the standard Gannet scheme of extra dark sea grey top and Sky Type S (duck egg green) undersides?

looks great!

This’ll be the “before” picture, then (a couple of weeks ago).
Now I really must go back in the summer!