This article is about the 1930s British fighter. For the British two-seat carrier fighter-bomber of World War II, see Fairey Firefly. For the 1920s British fighter, see Fairey Firefly I.
Belgian Fairey Firefly Y-17 from 3/II/2 Aé (Red Cocottes) Squadron near its home base at Nivelles. Fairey c/n F-1505 was delivered from Fairey Hayes (UK) on 21 August 1931.
The Firefly was a private-venture design, penned by Marcel Lobelle, as the Curtiss D-12 powered Firefly I had been rejected owing to its American engine and its wooden structure, and could not be easily fitted with the larger and heavier geared Rolls-Royce Falcon XI favoured by the RAF.[1][2] A completely new design, it shared little with the Firefly I beyond the name. Making use of experience gleaned from the earlier machine, it was developed in response to Specification F.20/27 for a single-seat interceptor. It first flew on 5 February 1929.[1]
The Firefly II competed for the RAF contract against the Hawker Fury, showing superior speed but was criticised for having heavier controls.[1] Crucially, it retained a mainly wooden structure despite the Air Ministry's demands for metal structures. This led to the Fury being selected. Afterwards, the prototype was rebuilt and renamed Firefly IIM, the "M" denoting the all-metal construction of the rebuilt machine.
A revised prototype with longer-span wings, the Firefly III was built to Specification N21/26 as a carrier-based fighter to replace the Fleet Air Arm's Fairey Flycatchers, first flying on 17 May 1929.[3] Like the land-based fighter, it was rebuilt with more metal components as the Firefly IIIM, and again like the Firefly II, was beaten by a design produced by Hawker, in this case the Hawker Nimrod. Although no production orders ensued, the Firefly IIIM was fitted with floats and used as a trainer by the RAF's High Speed Flight preparing for the 1931 Schneider Trophy race.[4]
Operational historyedit
A contract was won for 25 IIM aircraft for Belgium's Aviation Militaire, followed by a contract for a further 62 to be constructed by Avions Fairey, Fairey's Belgian subsidiary. The Belgian aircraft served briefly in the Second World War from May to June 1940.
Two of the Belgian aircraft were converted to Firefly IV, with 785 hp (585 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs engines but the improvement was not deemed sufficient to warrant development. One was restored to its original form, while the other passed to Fairey for trials. One aircraft was supplied to the Soviet Union.
Garcia, Dionisio. "Air Force on the Edge: Belgian Military Aviation in 1940". Air Enthusiast, November/December 2001, No. 96. pp. 65–68. ISSN 0143-5450.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark, 1994. ISBN0-8317-3939-8.
Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN1-55750-082-7
Pacco, John. "Fairey Firefly" Belgisch Leger/Armee Belge: Het militair Vliegwezen/l'Aeronautique militaire 1930–1940. Artselaar, Belgium, 2003, pp. 32–38. ISBN90-801136-6-2.
Taylor, H. A. Fairey Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN0-370-00065-X.
Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander. Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN0-71810-564-8.
Willis, Matthew. "Database: Fairey Firefly". Aeroplane, August 2020, Vol. 48, No. 8. pp. 89–99. ISSN 0143-7240.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairey Firefly II.
– British Aircraft of World War II
February 13, 2024
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This article is about the 1930s British fighter For the British two seat carrier fighter bomber of World War II see Fairey Firefly For the 1920s British fighter see Fairey Firefly I The Fairey Firefly IIM was a British fighter of the 1930s It was a single seat single engine biplane of all metal construction Built by Fairey Aviation Company Limited it served principally with the Belgian Air Force throughout the 1930s until the outbreak of World War II Firefly IIMBelgian Fairey Firefly Y 17 from 3 II 2 Ae Red Cocottes Squadron near its home base at Nivelles Fairey c n F 1505 was delivered from Fairey Hayes UK on 21 August 1931 Role FighterManufacturer Fairey Aviation Company LimitedDesigner Marcel LobelleFirst flight 5 February 1929Introduction 1931Primary users BelgiumUSSRNumber built 91 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Variants 5 Specifications Firefly IIM 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editThe Firefly was a private venture design penned by Marcel Lobelle as the Curtiss D 12 powered Firefly I had been rejected owing to its American engine and its wooden structure and could not be easily fitted with the larger and heavier geared Rolls Royce Falcon XI favoured by the RAF 1 2 A completely new design it shared little with the Firefly I beyond the name Making use of experience gleaned from the earlier machine it was developed in response to Specification F 20 27 for a single seat interceptor It first flew on 5 February 1929 1 The Firefly II competed for the RAF contract against the Hawker Fury showing superior speed but was criticised for having heavier controls 1 Crucially it retained a mainly wooden structure despite the Air Ministry s demands for metal structures This led to the Fury being selected Afterwards the prototype was rebuilt and renamed Firefly IIM the M denoting the all metal construction of the rebuilt machine A revised prototype with longer span wings the Firefly III was built to Specification N21 26 as a carrier based fighter to replace the Fleet Air Arm s Fairey Flycatchers first flying on 17 May 1929 3 Like the land based fighter it was rebuilt with more metal components as the Firefly IIIM and again like the Firefly II was beaten by a design produced by Hawker in this case the Hawker Nimrod Although no production orders ensued the Firefly IIIM was fitted with floats and used as a trainer by the RAF s High Speed Flight preparing for the 1931 Schneider Trophy race 4 Operational history editA contract was won for 25 IIM aircraft for Belgium s Aviation Militaire followed by a contract for a further 62 to be constructed by Avions Fairey Fairey s Belgian subsidiary The Belgian aircraft served briefly in the Second World War from May to June 1940 Two of the Belgian aircraft were converted to Firefly IV with 785 hp 585 kW Hispano Suiza 12Xbrs engines but the improvement was not deemed sufficient to warrant development One was restored to its original form while the other passed to Fairey for trials One aircraft was supplied to the Soviet Union Operators edit nbsp BelgiumBelgian Air Force nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air Force High Speed Flight RAF nbsp Soviet UnionSoviet Air Force One Firefly Mk IIM used for tests and trials Variants editFairey Firefly II Single seat fighter prototype powered by a 480 hp 360 kW Rolls Royce Kestrel piston engine One built Fairey Firefly IIM Single seat single engine fighter aircraft of all metal construction equipped with resigned tail surfaces and revised engine cooling system Fairey Firefly III Single seat shipboard fighter prototype One built Fairey Firefly IIIM The Fairey Firefly III was rebuilt with all metal construction and redesignated Firefly IIIM Fairey Firefly IV Two Belgian Firefly IIs were converted and fitted with the 785 hp 585 kW Hispano Suiza 12Xbrs engine Specifications Firefly IIM editData from The Complete Book of Fighters 5 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 24 ft 8 in 7 52 m Wingspan 31 ft 6 in 9 60 m Height 9 ft 4 in 2 84 m Wing area 236 8 sq ft 22 00 m2 Empty weight 2 387 lb 1 083 kg equipped Gross weight 3 285 lb 1 490 kg Max takeoff weight 3 404 lb 1 544 kg 6 Powerplant 1 Rolls Royce F XIS V 12 liquid cooled piston engine 480 hp 360 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 175 mph 282 km h 152 kn at sea level 223 mph 194 kn 359 km h at 13 125 ft 4 000 m Range 240 mi 390 km 210 nmi 4 Firefly II Service ceiling 30 800 ft 9 400 m 7 Time to altitude 10 minutes 55 seconds to 20 000 ft 6 000 m Armament Guns 2 0 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine gunsSee also editRelated development Fairey Firefly IAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Hawker FuryRelated lists List of aircraft of World War II List of fighter aircraftReferences editNotes edit a b c Mason 1992 p 212 Willis Aeroplane August 2020 p 92 Taylor 1988 pp 175 176 a b Mason 1992 p 213 Green and Swanborough 1994 p 198 Taylor and Alexander 1969 p 47 Taylor 1988 p 179 Bibliography edit Garcia Dionisio Air Force on the Edge Belgian Military Aviation in 1940 Air Enthusiast November December 2001 No 96 pp 65 68 ISSN 0143 5450 Green William and Gordon Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters New York Smithmark 1994 ISBN 0 8317 3939 8 Mason Francis K The British Fighter since 1912 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press 1992 ISBN 1 55750 082 7 Pacco John Fairey Firefly Belgisch Leger Armee Belge Het militair Vliegwezen l Aeronautique militaire 1930 1940 Artselaar Belgium 2003 pp 32 38 ISBN 90 801136 6 2 Taylor H A Fairey Aircraft since 1915 London Putnam 1988 ISBN 0 370 00065 X Taylor John W R and Jean Alexander Combat Aircraft of the World New York G P Putnam s Sons 1969 ISBN 0 71810 564 8 Willis Matthew Database Fairey Firefly Aeroplane August 2020 Vol 48 No 8 pp 89 99 ISSN 0143 7240 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairey Firefly II Fairey Firefly II Biplane British Aircraft of World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fairey Firefly IIM amp oldid 1086922750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
