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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2262.PDF
FLIGHT Twentieth of the New Recognition Series AIRCRAFT TYPES AND FAIREY FULMAR DEVELOPED from the P.4/34 prototype of 1937, the Fairey Fulmar was first announced publicly when, in September, 1940, it was mentioned in Parliament as having been in action with the Fleet Air Arm in the Mediterranean ; evidently, therefore, it had by then been in production for some time. The prototype was actually built to a specification tor a dive-bomber, but although the Fulmar is substantially the same aircraft with minor—albeit externally visible— modifications, it went into service as a two-seater eight- gun fighter, having four fixed .303m. Brownings in each wing. The P.4/34 itself never went into quantity produc tion in this country, and only two examples were ever built here, despite the fact that* the design was chosen by Denmark for her Royal Naval Air Service to replace the Hawker Nimrod. They were to be made at the Royal Naval Dockyard at Copenhagen, but it is very doubtful if these plans had progressed as far as the production stage when the Germans walked into Denmark. The Fulmar is an all-metal aircraft with monocoque fuselage and flush-riveted, stressed-skin covering except for its control surfaces, which are fabric covered, including the split-trailing-edge flaps. The wings fold for stowage in aircraft carriers and the undercarriage retracts inwardly, the wheels lying in recesses in the centre-section and being completely faired-in when retracted. Power is supplied by a Rolls-Royce Merlin X giving 1,065 h.p. for take-off and a maximum of 1,145 h.p. at 5,250ft. The machine's top speed with service equipment has never been officially stated, but that of the prototype with the 1,030 h.p. Merlin II engine was given as 284 m.p.h. at 17,200ft., with a cruising speed of 230 m.p.h. at 15,000ft. or 245 m.p.h. at sea level. The service ceiling of the P.4/34 was 29,600ft., its range 1,000 miles, and its landing speed was as low as 55 m.p.h. for carrier operation. The adoption of the Fulmar as a fleet fighter marked the return of a Fairey fighter to the Fleet Air Arm, the pre vious one having been the famous Fairey Flycatcher. Equipment includes deck-arrester gear, catapult attach ments, and stowage for an inflatable dinghy behind the rear cockpit. No rear gun is provided, the second member of the crew acting solely as a radio-operator/observer. *•£*' . :
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