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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1021.PDF
Fawn II. Fawn III. FAMILY OF FAIREYS . . . > DAY BOMBERS—AND DERIVATIVES Fawn I Structurally and aerodynamically the Fawn (1923) wasa landplane development of the Pintail, intended as a day bomber or long-reconnaissance aircraft. It was, in fact, designed as areplacement for the D.H.9A though, as Sir Richard Fairey him- self has pointed out, the specification (D. of R. 3) asked for aspeed 6 m.p.h. less. The engine was a Napier Lion II and the undercarriage resembled that of the Flycatcher. The two-baywings were unstaggered. Fawn II This was the R.A.F. production-type Fawn, withlengthened fuselage and Lion V engine. Gross weight was 5,870 lb, speed at 10,000ft 108 m.p.h., time of climb to 10,000ft17j min, service ceiling 13,850ft and endurance 5 hr. At one time lateral radiators were fitted, but a chin-type installation wasstandard. Massive fuel tanks were carried on the top wings. Fawns, with ladders attached, were used for parachute dropping atHenlow. Undercarriages and parts were built by Hawkers. Fawn III Fairey records describe this machine as having theNapier Lioness experimental supercharged engine, but no photo- graph is available of a Fawn with this power plant, which wasan inverted unit. That reproduced herewith shows a super- charged Lion driving an adjustable-pitch metal airscrew andhaving lateral radiators. Fox I In 1923 Mr. Fairey saw Lt. David Rittenhouse, of theU.S. Navy, win the Schneider Cup in a Curtiss seaplane at a speed of 177.38 m.p.h. Greatly impressed, he took steps to secureBritish rights for the Curtiss D.12 engine, the wing radiator, Cur- tiss-Reed metal airscrews, and high-efficiency wing sections. Thesehe applied to a single-bay biplane of original design and of extremely clean lines which emerged, early in 1926, as the Foxtwo-seater day bomber. It is necessary only to compare the photographs of the Fox I with those of the various Fawns togauge the technical and military significance of the new design. Sir Richard recalled this year that when work started on theFox there was no more than £7,000 in the Fairey "kitty." This, he said, increased over a period to £23,000, but by the time theFox had made good its promise (and, with increased wing area, had flown at 156 m.p.h.) all had gone. It was then that LordTrenchard came to the rescue with a contract, and the circum- stances of this have been told by Capt. Norman Macmillan, whotested the prototype. Lord Trenchard attended a demonstration at Andover, following which he walked with Macmillan to askquestions. Such were the answers that the great "Boom" returned to the tarmac and told Mr. Fairey that he had decided to order Fox I (D.I2 engine). enough Foxes to equip a squadron. The chosen unit was No. 12,based at Andover, and in subsequent exercises the Foxes of 12 Squadron repeatedly eluded opposing fighters. The Fox owed its success not only to the features alreadymentioned, but to its small dimensions, light weight, submergence of all exterior fittings, the positioning of the fuselage relative tothe wings, cockpit arrangement and absence of complicated fuel and other systems. Another factor was the provision of the Fairey"high-speed" gun mounting for the rear Lewis gun. The wings were of wood, with built-up box spars, and were covered withdiagonally laid fabric. The tailplane also was of wood. Similarly, the rear fuselage was built of ash and spruce, and had swagedbracing rods. The central portion, however, was of metal con- struction, and to this the wings, engine bearer, rear fuselageand undercarriage were attached. In addition to the rear gun there was a Vickers firing through a trough in the port enginecowling. The D.12 engine gave the Fox a top speed of 153.5 m.p.h. at 6,500ft, 150 m.p.h. at 10,000ft, and 140 m.p.h. at 15,000ft.The 15,000ft level could be attained in 21J min. The bomb load was two 230 lb or four 112 lb bombs. Span was 38ft, length28ft 3in, and gross weight 4,120 lb. Fox Is were progressively re-engined with the Rolls-RoyceF.XIB (Kestrel IB) unsupercharged engine, and one such machine was used for testing an experimental steam-cooling system withleading edge condenser. Some Foxes served out their time as trainers at Cranwell.Fox IIM The second mark of Fox was a very different machine Above, Fox I (Kestrel). Below, Fox IIM (prototype). Above, Fox 1 (steam-cooled Kestrel). Below, Fox IIM (Belgium).
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