Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:49:05-3:50:18

P.139 payload figures could not prove operational superiority

The proposed P.139 promised a large payload improvement over the Gannet COD, but paper figures could not reveal whether the aircraft would meet its advertised performance.

Aircraft DesignCarrier Onboard DeliveryFairey GannetHawker Siddeley P.139BNaval Aviation
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Question

How much improvement would the proposed P.139 carrier-delivery aircraft offer over the Gannet COD?

Short answer

Potentially a great deal, but its paper payload figures could not be trusted until a real aircraft proved the design's performance.

Notes

A nominal cargo load of roughly five thousand pounds or twenty-eight passengers is a substantial increase over the Gannet COD role. That comparison still assumes the design achieves the weight, power, range, and handling figures written on paper. Until a test aircraft flies, designers cannot know whether it is underpowered, overweight, or otherwise unable to meet the brochure numbers. The panel therefore accepts the scale of the promised improvement while refusing to treat it as demonstrated capability.