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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0372.PDF
374 FLIGHT, 21 March 1957 FIRST-LINE EQUIPMENT • Aircraft Falrey Gannet. The Gannet is the standard fixed-wing anti-submarine air- craft of the F.A.A. and the latest version is the A.S.4. This is almost identical with the earlier A.S.1 but has a more powerful version of the Armstrong Sjddeley Double Mamba turboprop. Although apparently single-engined, the Gannet is virtually twin-engined and can cruise with one half of the engine shut down. The crew num- bers three and, in addition to radar, the aircraft carries anti-submarine weapons, sonobuoys, bombs, mines, air/ sea-rescue containers, or marine markers. A training version (Gannet T.2) is in service. Gannets have also been adopted by the Royal Australian Navy and the West German Naval Air Arm. Westland Wyvera. The Wyvern is unique in being the only turboprop- powered carrier-borne strike aircraft in service in the world. A massive single- seater, it is powered with an Armstrong Siddeley Python driving a Rotol eight- blade contra-rotating propeller, and the internal fuel capacity is 511 gallons. This can be augmented by two 90-gallon under - wing tanks. Armament, additional to the four 20 mm guns, is a torpedo; or various combinations of bombs and rockets; or mines or depth charges. A speed of 380 m.p.h. is attained at 10,000ft, and maxi- mum permissible diving speed is 550 m.pii. The Wyvern is one of the very few propeller-driven aircraft to have an ejector- scat. Westland Whirlwind. Several vari- ants of the Whirlwind have been supplied to the Fleet Air Arm and the newest of these, the Mk 5, is powered with the Alvis Leonides Major engine. Whirlwinds have distinguished themselves in the rescue and plane-guard roles; they are used exten- sively for communications and transport work and, on an experimental basis, for anti-submarine duties. A notable feature of the machine is the installation of the engine in the extreme nose, behind two clamshell doors. A simple operation enables it to be swivelled forwards and downwards for easy servicing.
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