Fairey Gannet - Survivor XL450
AEW.3 XL450 - Flugausstellung P. Junior Museum, Hermeskeil, Germany
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Gannet AEW.3 XL450 at Hermeskeil, 8th August 2025; Jake Wallace
XL450 was delivered to the Royal Navy in March 1959, serving with 849 NAS before retiring to No.431 MU Bruggen in Germany during 1978, acquiring the maintenance number 8601M.
Once Bruggen had finished with the airframe, it was acquired by the Air Classik Museum. It was placed on display at Monchengladbach Airport in 1985, where it started off in relatively good condition, even complete with a canopy cover; however, it slowly began to deteriorate. By the late 1990s, it was transported to the Flugausstellung P. Junior Museum in Hermeskeil, where it was reportedly moved for maintenance before it could be moved back to Monchengladbach, however, XL450 still remains at Hermeskeil today.
The aircraft was first on display with its wings in the folded position, but by 2004, the wings had been lowered and appeared to have been treated to a repaint. Although XL450 seems to have lost its canopy around this time, with a makeshift one being made up and put in place, losing the iconic bubble canopy shape. The airframe appears to be in a sound condition, although the paintwork is showing its age.
Once Bruggen had finished with the airframe, it was acquired by the Air Classik Museum. It was placed on display at Monchengladbach Airport in 1985, where it started off in relatively good condition, even complete with a canopy cover; however, it slowly began to deteriorate. By the late 1990s, it was transported to the Flugausstellung P. Junior Museum in Hermeskeil, where it was reportedly moved for maintenance before it could be moved back to Monchengladbach, however, XL450 still remains at Hermeskeil today.
The aircraft was first on display with its wings in the folded position, but by 2004, the wings had been lowered and appeared to have been treated to a repaint. Although XL450 seems to have lost its canopy around this time, with a makeshift one being made up and put in place, losing the iconic bubble canopy shape. The airframe appears to be in a sound condition, although the paintwork is showing its age.
Information on this page current as of 19/08/2025, last updated by Jake |
Find other photos of XL450 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net