The Admiralty were looking for a replacement for the Fairey Gannet and had at the time been promised two new aircraft carriers. Various designs were considered including the proposal from SJMcColm Engineering Ltd based on the Douglas Dart Dakota. Major changes would be needed for this aircraft to be able to take off and land on British Navy's aircraft carriers. SJMcColm Engineering Ltd had teamed up with Grumman for the twin engined Carlton and the four engined Charlton both based on the Avro Shackleton powered by turboprops.
Grumman at the time had had their E-2A Hawkeye cancelled by the USNAVY but would have the time to iron out the gremlins, the Sea Dakota would incorporate the wings and avionics from the Hawkeye and use a pair of Rolls-Royce Darts. The Sea Dakota had the option of a swing tail to allow for bulky loads to be carried as a C.O.D., tanker or specialist equipment.
Early sea trials on HMS Eagle and HMS Ark Royal proved to be successful with missions lasting upto six hours with two mishaps which included the left leg of the landing gear to collapse after a hard landing and failure to snag the arrestor wire although the aircraft managed to stop in time before going over the edge.
Nine Sea Dakotas became the flying prototypes during the trials phase, three C.O.D., three AEW and three tankers which meant that the practice of air-to-air refuelling could be conducted using the Sea Dakotas or helicopters. SJMcColm Engineering Ltd were hoping that even if they lost the AEW contract they could still use the Sea Dakota as a training aircraft for the Navy or the Royal Air Force. However the Admiralty didn't get the new aircraft carriers and a leasing agreement was signed for fifteen Sea Dakotas to be split between the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
SJMcColm Engineering Ltd would provide AEW coverage for the fleet whilst at sea, air-to-air flight refuelling and training, navigation training and electronic warfare training, they would also provide the maintenance and any updates.
The new through-deck aircraft carriers limited the storage of only two Sea Dakotas below decks, an air-bridge would be required when out of range and the use of a landbase runway. The Admiralty declared that the Sea Dakotas would only operate from RNAS, AEW coverage would be provided by helicopters, notably the Westland Sea Knight.
During the 1980s the Sea Dakotas would be used in the Aggressor Unit providing training for pilots, navigators/WSOs and EW.
Although the Sea Dakota never gained any orders they were evaluated by other countries with five of the AEW aircraft being used by HMRC Coast Guard and the monitoring illegal immigration.
The Sea Dakota can be used for the containment of forest or brush fires, oil pollution and survey work.
I'm using the 1/72 Italeri Douglas C-47 Skytrain model which is being kitbashed with a pair of Rolls-Royce Darts, the wings, tail and spin top from a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye.
(https://i.imgur.com/mN0VNag.jpeg)
Interesting. At first I thought you might be putting a turbo Dakota on floats. That would be fun too.
Quote from: kerick on April 03, 2025, 05:47:08 PMInteresting. At first I thought you might be putting a turbo Dakota on floats. That would be fun too.
There's two 1/72 Douglas XC-47C float plane Skytrain Dakota kits if you can find the RVHP 7294 conversion set or the AMC 7206 kit.
There's also a 1/144 model.
Maybe the floats taken from a 1/72 Ju-52 floatplane/seaplane might be a alternative 🤔
The Dart engines have been replaced with the turboprops from the same 1/72 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, however they have been fitted above the wings as the landing gear doors were glued shut. I'm now using parts from a 1/72 Fairchild A-10 which includes the landing gear and gun.
The Douglas Turbo Sea Dakota GR1.A used pair of Allison inverted T-56 turboprop engines with a powerful cannon positioned under the nose. This meant that the radar had to be moved into a pod above the fuselage. The request was made jointly by the British Army and the Royal Marines for a ground attack and ground support aircraft.
The Royal Marines when at sea took the Royal Navy rank but when on land took the equivalent Army or Air Force rank. To save confusion the GRA.1s would consist of a joint operational unit with nine aircraft made available. Armed reconnaissance missions with the capability of jamming enemy radar and in certain areas be used as the Command & Control.
A bolt-on in-flight refuelling probe could be fitted but a pair of drop fuel tanks was the norm. These also could be launched from an aircraft carrier and if necessary land on it after the mission but a landbase was usual practice.
The cannon carried would become the one fitted to the Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II ,30mm GU-8A gun with upto 16,000lb/7,258kg of stores.
The Sea Dakota GRA.1 was very effective in the Gulf War 1990-1991, Kosovo 1999, Afghanistan 2001 and onwards, recommissioned for service in the 2003 Iraq war with several upgrades and rebuilds using modern technology and materials. Paid by SJMcColm Engineering Ltd who had to start a retro production line due to the sudden interest by commercial airliners and cargo companies.
Slight change in design.
(https://i.imgur.com/IWZwCCo.jpeg)