FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1946
1946 - 0314.PDF
FLIGHT FEBRUARY 14TH, 1940 FAIREY SPEARFISH tion also house the arrester hook. This is released by the pilot from a forward-pointing position inside the port door and swings down and backwards to the streaming position. The arm of the arrester hook has a catch which permits it to break horizontally so that it can be folded forwards for r(-stowage after landing. Although neither dive brakes nor airscrew braking are provided on the first two Spearfish, later ones are to be The rudder is of typical Fairey rrfetal construction and isshown minus its fabric covering. The torsion rod and link to the servo tab may be seen. fitted with vented dive brakes. At present under develop-ment, these will fold out, simultaneously, to the yo-degree position, from the top and bottom wing sur-faces just aft of the rear main spar. They will be required to operate in one-eighthof a second in the dive at speeds up to the maximum per-mitted, and the T.V. of the aircraft with brakesmust not exceed the maximum ' for levelllight. Each pair of brakes has four hydrau-lic jacks and the upper surface is linked to thelower for operation. All control surfacesare of metal construc- tion and with the excep-tion of the rudder have metal skins. The rudder lias ametal leading edge and horn- balance covering but is other-wise fabric covered. Metal servo tabs are also common toall control surfaces, and the elevators and both ailerons haveadditional separate trimming tabs. It is noteworthy that theelevators, which are of particu- larly sturdy construction, aremade in one piece and have a single through-spar. On later aircraft it is intendedto fit hydraulic servo ailerons, and the system is at presentbeing developed. In the event Of hydraulic failure, sufficientdirect control will remain to the pilot to make ordinary ma'neeu- A Youngman flap on test in its fully extended position. Notethe lower linkage embodying rack and pinion gear peculiar to the centre-section flaps. \ res and a normal landing on a runway or a carriei. One or two small but useful items of equipment are worthy of comment; among these is the provision of a large curved ladder for access to the cockpits. Another feature is the stowage of batteries which are normally attached inside the bomb bay under the cockpit floor but may be lowered in trays suspended on wires, or wound up again; the reel works in a similar manner to that on a fishing rod. Ultra-violet lighting is fitted in both cockpits, and direct communication between pilot and "observer" is possible through a small door in the armoured partition. Since Barracuda days it has been a Fairey custom to use a high-pressure hydraulic system, and the Spearfish is in keeping with an operating pressure of 2,500 lb./sq. in. It is said that a better response is obtained when operating services at high pressures and that the need for bleeding is almost eliminated. The armament of the Spearfish is of special interest, particularly as it is the first aircraft of its type to be fitted with a remotely con- trolled turret. The turret is of Nash and Thompson design, and carries two 0.5m. Browning guns. A ro- tatable seat is provided for the gunner. In addition to the rear, guns two more 0.5m. Brownings are placed in the wing leading edge, outboard of the airscrew / \ disc. The Spearfish would, how- / r~~"~' ever' Bave little chance of defendv ' I ing itself successfully against fig-attack as the field of fire from t turret is very interrupted, and evenwith the unusually high rate ot turn made possible by its flaps, itcould not out-manceuvre fighters indefinitely. For dive - bombingduties an ejector is fitted to throw bombs clear olthe airscrew. Alterna- tive loads include bombs,one torpedo, four depth charges, thirty multi-flares, or one long-range The Spearfish under-carriage is large but neat. By removinga small panel in the leading edge, accessis gained to the '•folding wing latchpins, which may be withdrawn manually.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
