Fairey Gannet AEW.3 – Fotos e Vídeo

O Fairey Gannet AEW.3 foi uma variante da aeronave de guerra antissubmarino Fairey Gannet destinada a ser usada no papel de aviso aéreo (AEW) em porta-aviões da Marinha Real Britânica. Foi introduzido no serviço em 1959 para substituir o obsoleto Douglas Skyraider, e foi concebido como uma solução provisória até a introdução planejada de uma nova plataforma AEW construída para uso nos porta-aviões CVA-01 planejados. Nem os novos porta-aviões nem as novas aeronaves AEW foram procedendo, e a Gannet AEW permaneceu em serviço até que o último porta-aviões que pudesse operá-lo fosse aposentado.

Fonte: Fairey Gannet AEW.3 na Wikipédia

O Fairey Gannet AEW.3 was a British carrier-borne aircraft developed in the 1950s for airborne early warning (AEW) duties. It was a variant of the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine warfare aircraft, modified to carry a large radome under the fuselage and a crew of three. The AEW.3 operated from the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers until the 1970s, when it was replaced by the Fairey Gannet EAW.1.
The AEW.3 was designed to provide long-range radar coverage for the fleet, especially against low-flying Soviet bombers armed with anti-ship missiles. The aircraft had a distinctive appearance, with a double tail and a contra-rotating propeller driven by a turboprop engine. The radome housed a modified AN/APS-20 radar, which could detect targets up to 200 miles (320 km) away. The radar operator and the observer were seated in the rear cockpit, behind the pilot.
O AEW.3 entered service in 1959, and was deployed on board the aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal, HMS Centaur, HMS Eagle, and HMS Hermes. The aircraft proved to be reliable and effective, but had some limitations, such as its slow speed, low altitude, and vulnerability to electronic countermeasures. The AEW.3 also had a short range of about 300 miles (480 km), which meant that it had to be refuelled in flight by a tanker aircraft or land on a carrier frequently.
The AEW.3 was gradually phased out in the 1970s, as the Royal Navy adopted a new generation of AEW aircraft based on helicopters and jet planes. The last operational flight of an AEW.3 took place in 1978, and the remaining aircraft were retired or transferred to museums. The Fairey Gannet AEW.3 was one of the last propeller-driven AEW aircraft in service, and played an important role in the development of naval aviation in Britain.