Fairey Flycatcher

The Specification 21/26, issued by the Air Ministry's Directorate of Technical Development (DTD) on September 30, 1926, called for a "Single Seater Fighter Ship--plane for use from HM ships," fitted with a land undercarriage which could be replaced by floats, and vice versa, within half an hour. The aircraft, which was to have an all-metal structure but could be fabric covered, was to be suitable for launch from a catapult and for taking-off from and alighting on the deck of an aircraft carrier. It was to have a good degree of positive stability about all axes in both configurations, and tail incidence had to be adjustable in flight to enable the aircraft to fly horizontally at all speeds without attention from the pilot.

It was to be "highly controllable" at all speeds, and especially close to stalling speed, with no tendency to 'hunt' in a steep dive. Control had to be adequate to stop an incipient spin when the machine was stalled. A high degree of manoeuvrability in the air and on the ground or water was desired, and it had to respond quickly to the controls while not being tiring to fly. The ailerons were to have the minimum of yawing effect.

As a seaplane, the machine was to have good static stability in the water, and when under tow or running under its own power it was to be stable about all axes at all speeds.

The engines specified were the air-cooled Bristol Mercury radial of 550hp at 2,000rpm or the water-cooled Rolls-Royce Falcon X of 480hp at 2,300rpm. The installation had to allow for rapid and easy removal of the engine. The cowling, which also had to be easily removable, had to be finished "to prevent the reflection of light which might betray the presence of the aircraft to the enemy or dazzle the pilot". A metal propeller was specified.

There was to be tankage for 74 gallons of fuel, plus an easily removed 20 gallon auxiliary tank and a gravity tank of sufficient capacity to allow half an hour's flight at full power at ground level. An 11 gallon oil tank was to be provided if the Mercury engine was used, or an 81/2 gallon oil tank and a 21/2 gallon reserve water tank for the Falcon.

Alternative exhaust systems for day or night flying were required, and were to be easily changed. The night-flying system had to provide adequate silencing and flame damping, while the daytime system was to be "of minimum weight". Additional equipment to be carried during the acceptance flights weighed 5581b and included a Vickers 0.5in gun and 300 rounds, a Vickers 0.303in gun and 600 rounds, a rocket launching (R/L) tube and six bombs, and flotation gear. A second 0.303in gun with 600 rounds was to be provided for if the 0.5in gun was not available in time.

Minimum performance requirements with this load, using the Mercury, called for a horizontal speed of 132kt (152mph) at 10,000ft and a service ceiling of 23,000ft. With the Falcon X the figures were 127kt (146mph) at 10,000ft and 22,000ft. The length of run to take-off was not to exceed 47ft in a relative wind of 28kt (32mph), and the aircraft was to become airborne at a speed of 55mph when catapulted in still air. The suitability for launching from a catapult or alighting on the deck of an aircraft carrier was "of first importance", and the aircraft had to be capable of taking-off from a turret or cruiser platform.

For fighting, the pilot was to have the best possible view in all directions, and a good view forward and downwards was required for carrier landings. A clear, unobstructed view forward over the machine's centreline was needed to enable him to sight the fixed guns, the installation of which was to dispense with blast tubes. There was also to be provision for the fitting of a G.3 aerial camera as near to the sights as practicable, and standard clips were to be fitted to allow the new “light carrier” to be installed to carry four 20 lb bombs, sufficient clearance being provided to enable the bombs to be released in a very steep dive.

Despite the emphasis placed on the machine's naval use, it was stressed that: "The aircraft is to be designed primarily as a landplane fighter and qualities required for this work are not to be sacrificed in order to improve its characteristics when equipped with the float alighting gear". A padded head support was to be provided to prevent injury to the pilot during catapult launch acceleration.

A limit of 35ft was put on the wing span, the overall length was restricted to 23ft, the height was not to exceed 14ft 9in. Quick and easy removal and erection of the wings was specified, with the ability to remove the wing structure completely in ten minutes and replace it in fifteen minutes.

The contractor was required to provide a full-size mock-up of his proposed aircraft before constructional work was begun, to enable the Director of Technical Development to examine and approve the layout. This mock-up had to include "all parts and components which are likely to interfere with the all-round view of the pilot", and was to show the internal arrangement of the cockpit. Scale model floats for official water-tank tests were also to be provided, along with specimens of ribs, a section of wing, and a length of spar.

Tendering for this demanding specification were Armstrong Whitworth, which offered the AW XVI; Fairey, with the Flycatcher II; Gloster, which tendered the Gnatsnapper; Hawker, which offered the Hoopoe; Vickers, with a modified version of its Type 141 Scout; and George Pamall & Co, which had its head office at the Coliseum Works, Park Row, Bristol, and its aerodrome at Yate, in Gloucestershire.

The prototype flew for the first lime in 1922, and 192 were delivered to the Fleet Air Arm as Britain's standard carrier-based fighters until replaced by the Nimrod.
Construction was composite with wooden fabric-covered wings and a fuselage of wood and metal with fabric covering. A single-bay biplane wings, well-staggered, with pronounced dihedral on the upper wing (plus Fairey's Patent Camber Gear) and a fuselage which appeared to curve upwards to the tail unit.

The Flycatcher was the first aircraft required by the Air Ministry to under-take a terminal velocity dive at the maximum speed to which its 400 hp Jaguar IV engine would thrust it.

The aircraft of 403 Flight took part in operations against Chinese Pirates in the mid-twenties.

Flycatchers remained in service from 1923 until declared obsolete in 1935. They had the distinction of serving on board all British aircraft carriers of that period. In addition, they operated as landplane fighters from a short 18.3m take-off platform mounted above the gun turrets of capital ships. Their trailing-edge flaps and drooped ailerons provided a steep path of descent which was ideal for carrier landing. One Flycatcher was fitted experimentally with hydraulic brakes which permitted a very short landing run. This was the first FAA aircraft to have such brakes, but they did not then become standard equipment.

Once on deck, they did not have the benefit of folding wings to simplify shipboard stowage. Instead they were designed to be dismantled easily into sections which did not exceed 4.11m in length. The training, skill and enthusiasm of deck handling crews made possible such feats as a record of six aircraft landed and stowed in their hangars in only 4 minutes 20 seconds. Landing was carried out on the main deck.

Flycatcher I
Wingspan: 8.84 m / 29 ft 0 in
Length: 7.01 m / 23 ft 0 in
Height: 3.66 m / 12 ft 0 in
Wing area: 26.76 sq.m / 288.04 sq ft
Engine: 1 x Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III, 298kW
Max take-off weight: 1372 kg / 3025 lb
Empty weight: 924 kg / 2037 lb
Max. speed: 216 km/h / 134 mph
Ceiling: 5790 m / 19000 ft
Range at 110 mph: 500 km / 311 miles
Armament: 2 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 4 x 9kg bombs