Fairey Flycatcher
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The Fairey Flycatcher was a Royal Navy single seat biplane carrier borne fighter aircraft made by Fairey Aviation which served in the period 1923 to 1934. It was produced in both landplane (carrier use) and floatplane (catapult use aboard capital ships) forms.
Specifications
- Dimensions: span 29 ft; length 23 ft; height 12 ft.
- Maximum take off weight: 2,979 lb (1351 kg) floatplane 3,579 lb (1623 kg)
- Maximum speed: 133 mile/h ( floatplane 126 mph)
- Service ceiling 19,000 ft (floatplane 14,000 ft)
- Combat range 311 miles
Engine
The flycatcher was powered by a nine cylinder air cooled radial Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV engine developing 400 horsepower (300 kW).Features
The Flycatcher was a remarkable design for its time and was one of the earliest aircraft specifically designed for operation from aircraft carriers. Flaps ran the entire trailing edges of both wings and for landing and take off they could be lowered. This meant the aircraft needed only a 50 yard 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 combo for amphibian use.
Hydraulic wheel brakes were added to assist the aircraft in stopping in the confined space of an aircraft carrier. Arrester hooks on the undercarriage spreader bar were a feature of early models, designed to engage the arrester wires strung out on the carrier deck.
Armament
The Flycatcher had two fixed forward firing Vickers machine guns, using interrupter gear. In addition, four 20 pound bombs could be carried on racks beneath the wings.Service
The Flycatcher first flew on November 28, 1922.Production began in 1923 and the Flycatcher was flown from all the British carriers of its era. Some 192 were produced. A typical deployment was on the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous, where 16 Flycatchers would serve alongside 16 Blackburn Ripons and 16 reconnaissance aircraft.
Very popular with pilots, the Flycatchers were easy to fly and very maneuverable. It was in them that the Navy developed the tactics used in World War Two.
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.
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