Skip to content
Est. 2000 Life in Miniature!
May Day SALE            Save an extra 10% excluding gift vouchers and Display Cases            Ends Monday 6th May

Airfix A11007 Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 1:48 Scale Kit
A11007

RRP: £54.99
£49.49
£49.49
Out of stock

Description

Airfix A11007 Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 1:48 Scale Kit

1:48 Scale Plastic Kit by Airfix

Assembly Required

Paint & Glue not included

An aircraft that must surely be considered one of the most distinctive types to have ever seen Fleet Air Arm service, the Fairey Gannet was as capable as it was unique and was significant as the only post-war military contract to be won by the famous Fairey Aviation Company. Arguably the most unconventional Fairey designed aircraft to enter full production, the Gannet was developed in response to a 1945 Royal Navy requirement for an advanced carrier-based, turboprop-powered anti-submarine hunter-killer, one which was rugged enough to withstand the rigors of operation at sea.

Intended to counter the recent expansion of the Soviet submarine fleet at the start of the Cold War era, the Gannet was equipped with all manner of the latest electronic detection equipment and if an enemy submarine was detected, it could be marked, tracked, and if necessary, attacked, using bombs, depth charges, rockets, and air-launched acoustic torpedoes.

One feature of the Gannet which helped to give it a unique appearance was the adoption of its powerplant, the innovative Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba. This arrangement saw two gas turbine engines mounted side by side in the nose of the gannet, sharing a common gearbox, but both operating independently, each engine driving its own coaxially mounted, contra-rotating propeller. In addition to this, the engines could run on kerosene and even diesel fuel, which was safer to handle and less refined than traditional aviation fuels.

This arrangement provided Gannet crews with more than enough power for carrier operations, with the reassurance of two engines when embarking on long ocean patrols. Once in flight, the pilot could shut down one of the engines to conserve fuel and whilst this would reduce the Gannet's maximum speed, it would extend its loiter capabilities. Usually, a pilot would alternate engine use during a long patrol, running each engine for around an hour before swapping to the other engine - the engine mounted on the port side drove the front propeller.

Another unique feature of the Gannet's design was its bi-folding wing system, something which was designed to allow this large aircraft to operate safely and to be stored aboard one of the Royal Navy's relatively small aircraft carriers. When a pilot engaged the wing unfold, this ingenious system not only prepared the wings for flight, but also automatically connected all flight control systems, hydraulic connections and fuel pipes to the main system, without any ground crew intervention.

In operation, there are reports that the Gannet was so rugged a design that when one aircraft lost the outer sections of both wings after performing a particularly violent manoeuvre, the aircraft still managed to make it back safely to its home carrier, something which can only have endeared the aircraft to its crews still further.

The Fairey Gannet would prove to be an extremely rugged and highly effective anti-submarine aircraft, one which could carry an impressive array of offensive ordnance and one which was able to attack submarines either on the surface, or when submerged and trying to evade its attentions. Well-liked by air and ground crews alike, 348 Gannets would eventually be produced and in addition to serving with Britain's Fleet Air Arm, the aircraft would also see service with the navies of Australia, Germany and Indonesia.

Delivery

United Kingdom Delivery

We endeavour to process all orders same working day. Orders between £0.00 and £149.99 will be charged from £3.95 for Standard Delivery (2-5 working days) with Royal Mail. Standard Delivery for orders £150.00 or more will be delivered free of charge by Royal Mail.

Orders can be upgraded to Royal Mail 1st Class (1-2 working days) for just £5.99, or to Next Working Day Delivery with DPD Local for £11.95.

Next working day delivery is only available for UK Mainland. Islands, Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands will need to select a Royal Mail Service as we are unable to offer a next day service to these areas.

Aerosols and certain glues can only be shipped by courier and so will attract an extra charge, each item will be highlighted, and courier postage charged as standard.

Orders placed between Friday at 1pm and Sunday evening will be dispatched the following Monday. We are closed on Wednesday so orders placed after 2pm Tuesday will be dispatched on Thursday. All goods are subject to availability and all delivery dates are approximate. Please take into consideration when ordering from us that we reserve the right to charge for any re-delivery attempt and return to sender charges.

Worldwide Delivery

We endeavour to process all orders same working day. All orders will be charged a minimum rate of £24.95, delivered by Royal Mail Air Mail as standard. Large orders will be dispatched by courier, where extra postage is due, we will contact you and advise. Insurance is not included but is required on high value items.

Returns

No Quibble Returns Policy

Any unwanted items can be returned at the customer’s expense in original packaging and condition within 30 days of purchase. Goods should be returned to:

Returns Department

Jackson’s Models & Railways
33 New Street
Wigton
Cumbria
CA7 9AL
United Kingdom

We strongly recommend that you obtain proof of posting, it is the customers responsibility to ensure that the item is delivered to us safely and within 30 days of purchase. We cannot accept any responsibility for any parcels lost in transit without the proof of posting.

Reviews

This product has not yet been reviewed

Hello,

We are very sorry, but the browser you are visting us with is outdated and not complient with our website security.

Please upgrade your browser to a modern secure version to view our website.