Fairey N10 / F.128 / III

The Fairey N.10 (F.128) was modified in September 1917 as a landplane, with a wheeled undercarriage, and designated Fairey III. This introduced the Fairey Patent Camber Gear evolved for the Hamble Baby, which was then described as a trailing-edge flap and used to increase the lift of the wings. Tested as a two-seat seaplane, the F.128 was known as the Fairey III. With a single frontal radiator behind the propeller and the floats replaced by a wheel landing gear, the designation became Fairey IIIA. One N10 (III) even had its 46 foot wings reduced to about 25 feet, fitted with floats and entered in the 1919 Schneider Trophy Race. The race was flown, but foggy conditions prevented anyone from properly completing the course. This N10 (III) - at one stage G-EALQ - served as a prototype - floats on, floats off - wings long, wings short - 450 hp Napier Lion and so on.

Fifty examples were ordered as ship-borne two-seat bombers, and production began in 1918 (N2850-N2899), and the first IIIA was flown on June 6, 1918. Powered by a 260 hp Sunbeam Maori 12 cylinder engine, it had 46ft 2in equal span two bay wings; the variable camber being fitted to the lower wing only. The end of the war prevented any widespread use of the IIIA, however. The IIIB was also produced in small numbers as a two-seat floatplane bomber, and a few examples saw active service before the Armistice mainly on coastal patrols around the United Kingdom. The IIIB had float landing gear, increased wing area, and ailerons on the upper wing in addition to the Patent Camber Gear on the lower. Both versions employed a 260-hp Sunbeam Maori engine, and could carry a bombload of approximately 272 kg (600 lb).

The IIIB did have the top mainplane span increased to 62ft 9in was a specially strengthened catapult version. It seems that about eighty-two IIIAs and Bs were built - some later converted to the IIIC.

F.128

The third variant to be designed and produced during 1918 was the IIIC, a seaplane which had a performance increase of some 14%. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine, the IIIC total production of 36 machines were all either IIIBs converted on the production line, or built as IIICs from that line. Too late for war service in 1918, at least seven exam-ples saw operational duties with the North Russian Expeditionary Force, based at Archangel, in 1919. Four IIICs appeared on the Civil Register later, one of which, G-EBDI (ex-N9253), took part in an attempted global flight in 1922, but finally sank in Far Eastern waters on August 24,1919.

Progression in design next produced the IIID variant, first flown in prototype form in August 1920. An overall total of 227 IIIDs were eventually built, and the type's adaptability to both float and landplane configurations gave it a relatively long life. The prototype IIID, N9450, retained the Eagle VIII engine and made its first flight in August 1920 as a seaplane, and an initial production batch of 50 machines was put in hand. Of the 207 IIID built for service with the RAF and Fleet Air Arm, 152 were powered by Napier Lion IIB, V or VA engines.

On 30 October 1925, a IIID became the first standard FAA seaplane to be catapulted from a ship at sea.

In landplane form, the IIID was one of the first service aircraft to have oleo-pneumatic (oil/air) shock-absorbers.

Six IIID seaplanes went to the Australian government in August 1921. Several other European countries purchased a few machines in the same period. Copies were sold to Sweden, Portugal, and Netherlands.

Long distance flights characterised the IIID era; Portugese IIIDs flew across the Southern Atlantic; 4 RAF IIIDs on a Cairo-Cape-Cairo flight in 1926. Led by Wg Cdr C. W. H. Pulford, between 1 March and 21 June 1926 IIIDs completed a flight of almost 22,530km, Cairo-Cape Town-Cairo and thence to Lee-on-Solent. At no time throughout the period of almost four months was any delay caused by mechanical failure of any of the aircraft. They operated from Singapore, Shanghai, British Guiana and Australia. The basic design was still much the same; 46ft span, double bay, variable camber, Napier Lion (or alternating R.R. Eagle VIII). In service from 1924 until 1930 the IIID played a significant part in the development of military aviation.

Last in the III-series was the IIIF. Originally designed to meet a 1924 specification which required a 3 seat spotter reconnaissance aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm, the IIIF was a much-modified development of the IIID, having an all-metal fuselage and propeller, folding wings, and easy change to either wheeled or float undercarriage. The first prototype, N198, first flew on 19 March 1926, and initial deliveries of production aircraft went to various naval units during 1927. The Fairey IIIF had no dual controls and were used extensively on naval co-operation with its two man cockpit aft of the pilot. No raked wings, no stagger, no sweep back, the top wing in perfect symmetry with the bottom. Although many of the same characteristics still applied it was a vastly improved design over the IIID. Nearly 600 of these were built.

It was in Fleet Air Arm use that the IIIF made its largest contribution, serving aboard every British aircraft carrier of the time, as well as ashore with many naval air stations, training establishments, and specialized naval schools. It also became the vehicle for a variety of experiments and test-ing in many roles; including catapult trials, landing on a carrier with strengthened float and empennage, and many trials of radio-controlled aircraft. The IIIF was also subjected to many years of scientific tests at the RAE, Farnborough. At least 25 IIIFs were purchased by non-British governments, including Russia, Ireland, Argentina, Greece, Chile and New Zealand. In all a total of 622 Fairey IIIFs were built, of which 243 were RAF versions and the rest FAA variants. At least three examples recorded as still in RAF service (as target tugs) as late as February 1941.

 

Two further developments, the IIIF Mk V and Mk VI, were to give further service under the designations Gordon and Seal respectively, but were merely the final examples of a line of Fairey III-series aircraft which had spanned almost 23 years of service usage.

Gallery

F.128
Engine; 1 x 260hp Sunbeam Maori II 12-cylinder in-line engine
Max take-off weight; 4159 kg / 9169 lb
Empty weight; 2970 kg / 6548 lb
Wingspan; 46.2 m / 151 ft 7 in
Length; 36 m / 118 ft 1 in
Height; 11.10 m / 36 ft 5 in
Wing area; 476 sq.m / 5123.62 sq ft
Max. Speed; 104 km/h / 65 mph
Ceiling; 14000 m / 45950 ft
Armament; 1 x 7.7mm machine-gun, 2 x 50kg bombs
Crew; 2

IIIA
Span: 14.07 m (46 ft 2 in)
Length: 9.45 m (31 ft)
Height. 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Engines: 260-hp Sunbeam Maori
Maximum speed: 175.4 km/h (109 mph).
Service ceiling: 4572 m (15000 ft).

IIIB
Engine: Napier Lion XIA, 570 hp.
Wing span: 62 ft 9 in.

IIIB
Engines: 260-hp Sunbeam Maori
Span: 19.13 m (62 ft 9 in)
Length: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
Height: 4.27 m (14 ft)
Maximum speed: 152.9 km/h (95 mph)
Service ceiling: 3139 m (10300 ft).

IIIC
Engine: 375-hp RR Eagle VIII
Span: 14 m (46 ft 1 in)
Length: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
Height: 4.27 m (14 ft)
Maximum speed: 177.8 km/h (110.5 mph).
Service ceiling: 2774 m (9100 ft).

IIID
Engine: 375-hp RR Eagle VIII or 450-hp Napier Lion II.
Span: 14 m (46 ft 1 in)
Length: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Height. 3.96 m (13 ft)
Maximum speed: 193 km/h / 120 mph
Service ceiling: 6096 m (20000 ft) (Landplane/Lion).

IIIF prototye
Length: 11.07 m (36 ft 4 in)
Height. 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)

IIIF
Engine: Napier Lion XIA, 570 hp / 425kW.
Span: 13.94 m (45 ft 9 in)
Length 34ft 4in.
Height 14ft 2in.
Wing area; 41.2 sq.m / 443.47 sq ft
Empty weight: 1779 kg / 3923 lb
Loaded weight: 2858 kg / 6301 lbs
Maximum Speed: 120 mph.
Ceiling; 6095 m / 20000 ft
Maximum speed: (Mk 1 landplane) 241.4 km/h (150 mph)
Armament; 2 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 220kg of bombs

IIIM/B
Engine; 1 x Napier Lion XIA, 425kW
Max take-off weight; 2858 kg / 6301 lb
Empty weight; 1779 kg / 3922 lb
Wingspan; 13.94 m / 45 ft 9 in
Length; 10.82 m / 35 ft 6 in
Height; 4.26 m / 13 ft 12 in
Wing area; 41.2 sq.m / 443.47 sq ft
Max. speed; 209 km/h / 130 mph
Ceiling; 6095 m / 20000 ft
Armament; 2 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 220kg of bombs

Fairey IIIF

Fairey N10