One of the more unique twin engined prop designs to have entered service, the Fairey Gannet AEW.3 was based on the earlier Gannet carrier-borne ASW/strike aircraft. Though looking superficially like a single engine aircraft, the Gannet had two engines. ⠀ ⠀ Armstrong Siddeley developed the Double Mamba turboprop engine by having two Mamba engines drive through a common gearbox. One engine drove one of the paired contra rotating props on the Gannet. During patrols, the Gannet could alternate every half hour flying on only one of the Mamba engines to extend its airborne endurance. ⠀ ⠀ When one engine was stopped, one of the contra props stopped and was feathered. ⠀ ⠀ The Gannet AEW.3 served with a single Fleet Air Arm squadron, 849 NAS (Naval Air Squadron) from 1960 to the Gannet’s retirement in 1978. The squadron then had four flights- A Flight, B Flight, C, Flight, and D Flight, which were four aircraft detachments to Royal Navy aircraft carriers. There was also a headquarters flight and single a transport version of the Gannet, the Gannet COD.4, was usually deployed with each flight for carrier on-board delivery.⠀ ⠀ November Aviation Photo Challenge | @kjdphoto1971 | #1119planes | “Twin Engine Propeller” | Day 25⠀ ⠀ #avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #PimaAirandSpaceMuseum #Pima #Tucson #DavisMonthan #Arizona #airport #planespotting #instaplane #instagramaviation #Fairey #Gannet #AEW3 #RoyalNavy #mil_aviation_originals #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge #AvGeekNation (at Pima Air & Space Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5SpCR2h4Do/?igshid=7umetbyne6yr
