Fairey Flycatcher

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Flycatcher

The Fairey Flycatcher was a British single-seat biplane carrier-borne fighter
aircraft made by Fairey Aviation Company which served from 1923 to 1934. It was
produced with a conventional undercarriage for carrier use, although this could
be exchanged for floats for catapult use aboard capital ships.

The Flycatcher was designed to meet the requirements of Specification N6/22 for
a carrier and floatplane fighter to replace the Gloster Nightjar, powered by
either the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar or the Bristol Jupiter radial engines. Both
Fairey and Parnall submitted designs to meet this specification, with Fairey
producing the Flycatcher, and Parnall the Parnall Plover. The first of three
prototype Flycatchers made its maiden flight on 28 November 1922, powered by a
Jaguar II engine, although it was later fitted with a Jupiter IV.[3] Small
orders were placed for both the Flycatcher (for nine aircraft) and Plover (for
ten aircraft) to allow service evaluation. After trials, the Flycatcher was
ordered for full production.

Technical description

The Flycatcher was a remarkable design for its time, and was one of the earliest
aircraft specifically designed for operation from aircraft carriers.[5] Flaps
ran the entire trailing edges of both wings. These could be lowered for landing
and takeoff, providing the aircraft with the capability of using only 50 yd (46
m) of deck space "to come and go."

The fuselage was made of both wood and metal with fabric covering. A rather
cumbersome undercarriage could be changed for twin floats or a wheel/float
combination for amphibian use.

Hydraulic wheel brakes were added to assist the aircraft to stop in the confined
space of an aircraft carrier. Arrestor hooks on the undercarriage spreader bar
were a feature of early models, designed to engage the arrestor wires strung out
on the carrier deck.


Role
Fighter

National origin
United Kingdom

Manufacturer
Fairey

First flight
November 1922

Introduction
1923

Retired
1934

Primary user
Fleet Air Arm

Produced
1923–1926

Number built
196

Production of the Flycatcher began at Fairey's Hayes factory in 1923, entering
service with No. 402 Flight Fleet Air Arm. The Flycatcher was flown from all
British carriers of its era. Some 192 were produced. A typical deployment was on
the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous, where 16 Flycatchers served alongside 16
Blackburn Ripons and 16 reconnaissance aircraft.

Very popular with pilots, the Flycatchers were easy to fly and very
manoeuvrable. It was in these aircraft that the Fleet Air Arm developed the
combat tactics used in the Second World War.

The Flycatcher saw service with the Home, Mediterranean, East Indies and China
fleets. During its service on the China station, the Flycatcher was active
against Chinese pirates in the waters near Hong Kong.

Specifications (Flycatcher I)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
Height: 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m)
Wing area: 288 ft2 (26.8 m2)
Empty weight: 2,038 lb (926 kg)
Loaded weight: 3,028 lb (1,377 kg) (3,531 lb (1,605 kg) with floats)
Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV two row, 14 cylinder radial engine,
400 hp (298 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 133 mph (116 kn, 214 km/h) at sea level
Range: 310 mi (270 nmi, 499 km)
Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
Rate of climb: 1090 ft/min [8] (5.53 m/s)
Wing loading: 10.5 lb/ft2 (51.4 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.132 hp/lb (216 W/kg)
Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 9 min 29 sec[8]

Armament

Guns: 2 × fixed forward firing Vickers machine guns
Bombs: Provision for 4 × 20 lb (9.1 kg) bombs under wings[8




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