'Fairey Gannet - Duxford 2004'

Andre, surely you cannot be derisive of this fine example of UK

aeronautical design. Your (kind) comments appreciated.

This really is a contender for one of the 10 ugliest aircraft in history, along with its elder stablemate the Barracuda, and the Westland Wyvern. I get the impression of some fat insect, some bug that gardeners dread finding on their rose bushes.

Yep, it's reaaly a weird airplane. About the photo I think you should have tried a different composition, maybe downside to upside angle or something like this ... the way it it is it's just like a snapshot.

I think what we have here is a case of "form following function" in the design.......There is one thing I have found out, is that at an air show, just getting a shot of an aircraft(on the ground) without people intruding is no small accomplishment.......Jim

Thanks for your interest - I guess 'form following function' is a good description and from what I remember of working with them (in Shacks) the function wasn't all that great either! Now, I've upset the Senior Service!!

The photo is an old one and you quite properly refer to it as a snapshot, I didn't see it as much of a subject and this was shot in passing. Re intruding people and background a/c etc they have been removed via Photoshop. Pat.

If form follows function, these planes had some ugly jobs to do :)

Thanks for posting this, Pat. When I was part of the Sawston ATC Aircraft Restoration Society, I had the honour of helping to restore this very aircraft, in 1989 I think. I remember sand-blasting the corrosion off the engine cowlings and priming them before it got it's fresh lick of paint.

 

When I've been to Duxford recently, I've been gutted to see this, the Phantom II, Javelin, Sea Vixen, all outside rusting up. All have seen some attention from me at some point. There all nicely tucked-up inside AirSpace now!