Above: C.O.D. Gannet mail plane being launched during Northern Wedding, Arctic 1970.
This AS Gannet conversion was operated by 849 Sqaudron B Flight. Arguably the most important aircraft on the ship.
Above: Gannet AEW3 being launched during Northern Wedding, Arctic 1970.
Note the launch strop dropping away from the aircraft. The use of disposable strops had been the practice before the introduction of the strop catchers on the Ark Royal's catapults which were used to retrieve the strops of the Phantoms and Buccaneers only.
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These ungainly looking aircraft always seemed to wander all over the sky on approach. Whilst working on the flight deck one quickly developed a habit of keeping an eye on these whilst they approached. I guess that the jets came in so fast that one didn't notice any 'sky wander'.
