Fairey Gordon

A medium-range day bomber with a forward-firing Vickers machine-gun mounted on the left side of the fuselage and a rear-mounted Lewis gun, the Gordon could carry up to 209kg of bombs.

A development of the IIIF Mk V, the Gordon was almost identical to the Fairey IIIF, except for having a 391kW Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIA radial air-cooled engine in place of the Napier Lion water-cooled engine.

The prototype first flew in 1930 and a total of 163 were built for the RAF, including a small number of trainers. Compared to the IIIF, the Gordon offered a considerable increase in speed, due mainly to the engine and a lighter AUW. In addition to the production Gordon Is, 24 refined Gordon IIs were built for the RAF and about 90 IIIFs were brought up to Gordon standard. They remained operational until 1938.

A number were also exported, production examples going to China and Brazil, while RAF types were passed to Egypt and New Zealand.

Gordon I
Engine: Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIA, 525 hp / 391kW
Wingspan; 13.94 m / 45 ft 9 in
Length; 11.20 m / 36 ft 9 in
Height; 4.32 m / 14 ft 2 in
Wing area: 437.987 sq.ft / 40.69 sq.m
Max take-off weight; 2679 kg / 5906 lb
Empty weight; 1588 kg / 3501 lb
Max. speed: 126 kts / 233 km/h
Cruising speed: 96 kts / 177 km/h
Service ceiling: 21998 ft / 6705 m
Range: 522 nm / 966 km
Armament: 2 .303 MG (7,7mm)
Bomb load: 460 lb.
Seats: 2.

Gordon II
Engine: Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIA, 609 hp.
Wingspan; 13.94 m / 45 ft 9 in
Length; 11.20 m / 36 ft 9 in
Height; 4.32 m / 14 ft 2 in
Wing area: 437.987 sq.ft / 40.69 sq.m
Crew: 2

Fairey Gordon Mk.II