Fairey Fox

Большое впечатление на всех произвел принимавший участие в гонках на Кубок Шнейдера 1923 года американский Curtiss CR-3 с V-образным мотором Curtiss D-12 мощностью 450 л. с. Ричард Фэйри закупил у фирмы "Curtiss" мотор D-12 и права на его производство в Великобритании, а также металлический винт Curtiss-Reed, высокоэффективный аэродинамический профиль крыла CR-3 и крыльевые радиаторы. Лицензионное производство мотора налажено не было, но примерно 50 двигателей англичане импортировали из США. Они послужили основой для разработки мотора Fairey Felix и ставились на дневные бомбардировщики Fox.
   Прототип Fox выполнил первый полет 3 января 1925 года. Испытания выявили ряд дефектов самолета, зато прототип показал скорость 254 км/ч, на 64 км/ч больше, чем у сопоставимого с ним Fawn. Использование на самолете американского мотора стало большой проблемой при получении первого заказа от британских военных на 18 самолетов по спецификации 21/25. Первый Fox Mk I поднялся в воздух 10 декабря 1925 года; первые серийные машины поступили в 12-ю эскадрилью уже в январе 1926 года.
   Позже было заказано еще девять Fox, а появление мотора Rolls-Royce F.XIIA (позднее стал называться Kestrel) открыло дорогу к переоснащению бомбардировщиков Fox британскими двигателями. Вариант с Rolls-Royce F.XIIA получил обозначение Fox Mk IA. Первый Fox Mk IA полетел 29 августа 1927 года с мотором Rolls-Royce F.XI, а самолет с F.XIIA поднялся в воздух в декабре 1928 года.
   Первый полет Fox Mk IIM выполнил 25 октября 1929 года; модификация стала развитием Mk I с матерчатой обшивкой металлического каркаса и мотором F.XIB (затем Kestrel IB) мощностью 480 л. с. Fox Mk IIM предназначался для британских ВВС, но ВВС в качестве дневного бомбардировщика к тому времени уже выбрали Hawker Hart. Для Fox Mk IIM стали искать иностранных заказчиков. Бельгия заказала 12 самолетов в январе 1931 года, первые три из них прибыли в Брюссель-Эвр 10 января 1932 года. Для лицензионной сборки Fox в Госсели, вблизи Шарлеруа, бельгийской фирмой с британским участием "Avions Fairey" был построен завод. Первый Fox бельгийской постройки поднялся в небо 21 апреля 1933 года, к 1939 году фирма построила 177 самолетов в 11 вариантах с моторами Kestrel IIS и Hispano-Suiza 12Y. Наиболее важным бельгийским вариантом являлся Fox Mk VI с мотором Hispano-Suiza мощностью 860 л. с., закрытой кабиной и установленными на шасси обтекателями; самолет развивал максимальную скорость 354 км/ч, а высоту 6095 м набирал всего за 8 мин 20 с. 10 мая 1940 года, в день нападения Германии, в составе бельгийских ВВС имелось 98 самолетов Fox.
   Еще некоторое количество Fox построили в Великобритании, включая шесть гидропланов для Перу, однако точное число построенных самолетов не известно. Несколько Fox оставалось на вооружении британских ВВС до 1931 года, когда им на смену пришли бомбардировщики Hawker Hart.
  

Варианты

   Fox Mk III: демонстратор, построенный с инициативном порядке, позже стал единственным Fox Mk IV
   Fox Mk III Trainer: один Fox Mk II с двойным управлением и звездообразным мотором Armstrong Siddeley Serval мощностью 360 л.с.; в 1934 году самолет переоборудован на заводе в Госсели в Fox Mk IIIS с оснащенным нагнетателем мотором Kestrel IIMS; построено еще пять Fox Mk IIIS
   Fox Mk III: 13 двухместных истребителей-разведчиков бельгийской постройки с дополнительным стреляющим вперед 7,62-мм пулеметом FN-Browning
   Fox Mk IIIC: двухместный разведчик/легкий бомбардировщик; построено 48 самолетов, все с моторами Kestrel IIS, включая один тренировочный Fox Mk IIICS с двойным управлением; на всех самолетах кабина выполнена закрытой
   Fox Mk IV: опытный самолет с мотором Hispano-Suiza мощностью 775 л.с.
   Fox Mk IV Floatplane: шесть гидропланов для Перу
   Fox Mk V: дальний одноместный истребитель Fox Mk IV с закрытыми обтекателями стойками и колесами опор шасси, доработанный "Fairey"; по возвращении в Бельгию на самолете установили мотор Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs мощностью 830 л.с, а обтекатели с колес сняли, перестроен в прототип разведчика Fox MkVIR
   Fox Mk VIC: 52 двухместных истребителя, эквивалент Fox MkVIR
   Fox Mk VIR: разведчик-истребитель на основе Fox MkVI
   Fox Mk VII: одноместный истребитель с шестью пулеметами, разработанный на основе Fox Mk VIR; построены две машины, неофициально известны как Kangourou за особую форму радиатора
   Fox Mk VIII: 15 самолетов улучшенного варианта Fox MkVIR с двумя 7,62-мм пулеметами FN-Browning в носке верхнего крыла


ТАКТИКО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

   Fairey Fox Mk I

   Тип: двухместный дневной бомбардировщик
   Силовая установка: один V-образный ПД Fairey Felix мощностью 480 л. с. (358 кВт)
   Летные характеристики: максимальная скорость на уровне моря 254 км/ч; набор высоты 4570 м - за 21 мин 30 с; практический потолок 5180 м; дальность 1046 км
   Масса: пустого 1183 кг; максимальная взлетная 1867 кг
   Размеры: размах крыльев 11,58 м; длина 9,50 м; высота 3,25 м; площадь крыльев 30,10 м2
   Вооружение: один 7,7-мм пулемет Vickers слева в носовой части фюзеляжа и один 7,7-мм наводимый пулемет Lewis в задней кабине, плюс до 227 кг вооружений на четырех держателях под нижним крылом - обычно две 104-кг бомбы или четыре 51-кг бомбы, или восемь 9,10-кг бомб

Flight, July 1928

THE FAIREY "FOX
Fairey "Felix" Engine

   DESIGNED and built by the Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd., of Hayes, Middlesex, the "Fox" is a high-performance light day bomber in which aerodynamic efficiency has been aimed at by suppressing all projections on the fuselage. The latter is in itself of good aerodynamic form and of small cross-sectional area, this having been possible by the fitting of the Fairey "Felix D.12" engine, which has a very small frontal area. A further saving in resistance has been effected by fitting a surface radiator in addition to the retractable radiator.
   The fuselage is arranged so that the gunner can lie down when bombing, a trap door in the floor of the fuselage giving him a clear view. The bomb release gear is placed close at hand, on the starboard side.
   In designing the "Fox" a difficulty was encountered in connection with the tail defence of the machine, i.e., with the placing and operation of the aft gun. At speeds of 225 km./h. it was found impossible for the gunner to stand up with head and shoulders clear of the cockpit, and consequently it became necessary to adopt a different arrangement. The "Fox" was, therefore, fitted with a special mounting for the after gun. and the gunner is shielded by the windscreen and is thus able to operate his gun, which covers the entire field upwards and aft.
   The pilot's gun is placed on the port side, and the rear portion of the gun is readily accessible, and all normal jams can be cleared in the air. A removable panel uncovers the gun in the space of a few seconds for removal or adjustments. Needless to say, the gun is provided with the usual interrupter gear.
   Fuselage. - Of "mixed" construction. The central portion, which contains the cockpits, &c, and to which are secured the engine bearers at the front and the tail portion of the fuselage at the rear, is of steel tube construction ensuring rigidity and complete interchangeability of all parts. The rear portion of the fuselage is of normal girder type, with ash and spruce compression members and wire bracing. The covering is of fabric.
   Wings. - These are of normal two-spar construction, with built-up silver spruce spars of box section, and wooden ribs. The covering is fabric, and the wing section used is one of very low minimum drag. The biplane arrangement of the wings is of fairly normal proportions, but a noteworthy feature is that in spite of the fact that the machine is in the bomber class, but a single pair of struts on each side is used. This has been made possible by keeping the machine small and light, the effect of weight being cumulative.
   Engine Installation. - The Fairey "Felix D.12" engine is, as already pointed out, of small frontal area, and it is also of low weight (300 kgs.). In spite of this, however, the engine is complete, and the starter and starting magneto are incorporated as a part of the engine, together with petrol pumps, etc. The engine is very carefully cowled in, and the various auxiliaries are driven direct, thus eliminating the resistance of windmill drives. The cooling system is so arranged that, when starting up, hot water from the cylinders is by-passed to the oil temperature regulator and thereby rapidly heats the oil. In practice the throttle can be opened up after five or six minutes, so that one of the objections to water cooling is greatly reduced. The use of a Fairey metal airscrew has several advantages in addition to the greater efficiency. For example, the metal airscrew is immune from damage when flying through rain, hail, etc., while being also unaffected by adverse climatic conditions involving extreme variations in temperature, etc.
   Undercarriage. - Of simple V-type, with cross axle and shock absorption in the form of a special patented arrangement of rubber balls working as compression rubbers. This type of shock absorption has been found very effective, while at the same time being simple, cheap and requiring little maintenance.

Flight, June 1929

BRITISH AIRCRAFT AT OLYMPIA

THE FAIREY AVIATION CO., LTD.

   ONE of the most imposing individual exhibits at Olympia will be found on the Fairey stand, where no less than eight complete aircraft will be exhibited, in addition to smaller items such as airscrews, etc. These eight machines will be :-
   One Fairey III F, Napier "Lion XI," to be shown in skeleton.
   One III F 3-seater ("Lion XI") Fleet Air Arm Seaplane.
   One III F 2-seater (" Jaguar VI") General Purpose landplane.
   One "Fox" 2-seater (Rolls-Royce F) high-performance light day bomber.
   One Long-Distance Monoplane (Napier "Lion").
   One "Firefly II" (Rolls-Royce F) single-seater interception fighter.
   One single-seater fighter Ship 'plane with alternative land undercarriage (Rolls-Royce F).
   One Fairey two-seater Fleet fighter reconnaissance seaplane (Rolls-Royce F).
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   The Fairey "Fox" is a high-performance Light Day Bomber, fitted with Rolls-Royce "F"-type water-cooled engine. To the Fairey Aviation Company must be given the credit for having introduced this class of machine, which, with its very high performance and great manoeuvrability, is a most effective weapon of offence. In the "Fox," a high performance has been attained by refined aerodynamic design, and by fitting a water-cooled engine of very small frontal area. To begin with, the fuselage is kept of good streamline form and no excrescences are permitted to break the smooth airflow, such accessories as petrol pumps, generators, etc., being accommodated within the fuselage. The wings are of biplane formation, but only a single bay is used on each side.
   Constructionally, the "Fox" marks a transition period between the now old-fashioned wood construction and the latest all-metal construction in that, although the front portion of its fuselage is of steel tube construction, the rear portion of the fuselage is of ash and spruce, braced by swaged tie rods, while the wings have built-up wooden box spars and wooden ribs.
   The engine (a Rolls-Royce "F"-type) is mounted in the nose, on a welded steel tube structure, and the cooling system is unusual in that a wing radiator is used, in addition to the retractable radiator. An advantage of this system is that air resistance is decreased because the area of retractable radiator surface that normally needs to be exposed is very small, the greater proportion of the heat being dissipated by the wing radiator, the air resistance of which is practically negligible. Fuel is supplied to the carburettors through a single-pipe line from the main tank, which is situated within the fuselage. An engine-driven fuel pump feeds the circuit, while an auxiliary hand pump is incorporated in the fuel system, so that if at any time the engine-driven pump should fail, the fuel supply can be maintained by this pump.
   The undercarriage of the "Fox" is of plain Vee-type, with oleo-damped rubber block springing. The amount of damping can be adjusted to suit local requirements.
   In the pilot's cockpit there is, in addition to the usual flying and engine controls, a very complete set of instruments, as well as the Vickers, or similar type machine gun. The pilot's seat will accommodate a seat type of parachute, if desired. Excellent protection is afforded to the pilot by a good windscreen, and by the cockpit coaming, which is fairly high, without, however, interfering with the view. The beading of the cockpit opening is well padded to protect the pilot.
   There is a single flap-up seat in the rear cockpit, and when this seat is folded and a trap door in the floor opened, an effective prone bombing position is available, the bomb sight being fixed in the trap-door aperture, and the bomb release controls coming readily to hand on the starboard side of the cockpit floor.
   The wiring connections of the radio apparatus are interesting. All wiring in the machine, such as that for bonding, generator, and battery, amounting to eight or more cables, is brought to a single strip panel in close proximity to the radio set. This panel is arranged with plug and socket fittings, and in this way is connected to the set. In order to detach the set, all that is necessary is to disconnect these fittings, and the set is ready to be detached.
   The armament of the "Fox" consists of two machine guns and a number of bombs. The front gun is a Vickers, or similar type, mounted on the port side, in a gun tunnel in the fuselage fairing, and with the sights, bead and ring or "Aldis" type, centrally placed in the direct line of vision of the pilot. The rear gun, owing to the high speed of the machine, is placed on a special type of Fairey gun mounting, to which reference was made in the notes dealing with the III F seaplane. Five double drums of ammunition can be carried. As regards bombs, the standard "Fox" is arranged with release quadrants and levers to carry any of the following bomb loads: two 230-lb. bombs, or four 112-lb. bombs, or two 4 x 20 lb.-bomb racks. All bombs are carried under the lower main planes.
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Flight, November 1932

British Aircraft at the Paris Aero Show

The Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd.

   TWO complete aircraft will be exhibited on the stand of the Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd., a "Fox" and a "Firefly," both fitted with Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine.
   It will be remembered that after very strenuous competition with aircraft firms of other nations, the Fairey Company was awarded the Belgian order, the award causing some rather heated comment abroad, notably in France, where it was felt that the French constructors had been outwitted. The move on the part of the Fairey Company in exhibiting at Paris the two particular types of Fairey aircraft which succeeded in beating all-comers in Belgium is thus a very timely one, as it will afford not only all the foreign visitors to Paris, but the French constructors themselves, an excellent opportunity to examine the Fairey machines in detail. We believe that after such an inspection all fair-minded critics will come to the conclusion that, to use the English sporting phrase, "the best man won."
   The "Fox" Mark II to be exhibited in Paris will be generally similar to those which are now being constructed under licence in the Belgian Fairey factory at Gosselies, but will show certain differences. For example, in place of the usual single synchronised machine gun firing through the propeller (and, of course, operated by the pilot) the "Fox II" shown in Paris will have two synchronised guns. In addition to these, the very comprehensive equipment includes radio, bomb gear and automatically-operated camera. In spite of the equipment carried, the "Fox II" is claimed to have a maximum speed of 190 m.p.h. (306 km./h.).
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   Both machines are of the well-known Fairey type of metal construction, and we have no doubt that both will be very much admired.

Flight, November 1932

British Aircraft

The Fairey Aviation Co.,
Hayes, Middlesex Ltd.

   MR. C. R. FAIREY holds in Great Britain a position somewhat similar to that occupied in France by M. Louis Breguet in that his company has produced probably a greater number of general purpose aircraft than any other firm, not only for use in Great Britain, but in a large number of other countries. Some years ago Mr. Fairey introduced the "Fox," which set a new fashion in high-performance two-seaters, and which led later to the design and production of the now famous III.F which has been used for a variety of purposes in many countries, and has been fitted with many different types of engine.
   At the Paris Aero Show the Fairey Company will exhibit the latest type of "Fox," similar to the model with which squadrons of the Belgian Air Force are now being equipped, and a "Firefly II.M" which also has been adopted by the same Air Force.
   The "Fox" Mark II is an all-metal two-seater, and can be used as a day bomber, fighter or reconnaissance aeroplane. The engine fitted is a Rolls-Royce "Kestrel," and when the load carried by the "Fox II" is 1,800 lb. (820 kg.), the aircraft has a speed range of 48 m.p.h. (77 km./h.) to 190 m.p.h. (306 km./h.). By means of the special heating arrangements the cockpits are maintained at a reasonable temperature up to the service ceiling, which is 29.000 ft. (8 850 m.). The span of the "Fox II" is 38 ft. (11,6 m.) and the overall length is 29 ft. 5 in. (7,45 m.).