Fairey Flycatcher N9662 '507' of 402 Flight, HMS 'Courageous', Eastern Mediterranean in 1932.

Fairey Flycatcher N9676 '13' of 407 Flight, HMS 'COurageous', Malta in July 1928.

Fairey Flycatcher N9680 '1' of 401 Flight, HMS 'Argus', Atlantic Waters/Bay of Biscay in 1924/1925.

Fairey Flycatcher N9960 '6' of 403 Flight, HMS 'Hermes', in the China Station in 1931.

Fairey Flycatcher S1274 '527' of 401 Flight, HMS 'Furious', Western Mediterranean in early 1933.

Flycatcher I с желто-голубыми полосами на фюзеляже и вертикальном оперении принадлежал командиру 405-го звена с авианосца

Fairey Flycatcher S1279 '8' of 409 Flight, HMS 'Glorious' and Hal Far, Malta in early 1931. Plus top wing.

RICHARD WINSLADE’S superb colour plate shows the author’s reproduction Fairey Flycatcher in the hands of John Romain up from its Duxford base in August 1990.

John Fairey's Fairey Flycatcher reproduction, G-BEYB/S1278, during its appearance at RNAS Yeovilton on August 1.

John Fairey's beautiful Fairey Flycatcher reproduction

The author flying the Flycatcher around Yeovilton on October 22, 1981. Pictures taken by RICHARD WILSON from an 815 Sqn Lynx.

The prototype Flycatcher, N163, was first flown on November 28, 1922 from Hamble in the hands of Vincent Nicholl. It spent its life involved in testing and trials, and was still extant in 1925.

FAIREY "FLYCATCHER": Single-seater Fleet-Fighter, with Armstrong Siddeley "Jaguar."

The first prototype Flycatcher, N163, was a landplane and was first flown on November 28, 1922 at Hamble.

A NEW MACHINE AT THE R.A.F. PAGEANT: The Fairey "Flycatcher" ship's 'plane, fitted with a 400 h.p. Bristol "Jupiter."

After its brief sojourn in Argentina, the original S1284 was returned to the UK and re-integrated into Royal Navy service as S1590, as seen in this rare photograph. Coded “513”, it was damaged in a collision with another Flycatcher in May 1932. After repair it went on to serve with No 801 Sqn, before disappearing into obscurity.

N9943 '549' of 405 Flight, HMS 'Glorious', circa mid-1932. Note the pennant attached to the upper aileron.

A wonderful line-up - place and time unknown. In the foreground is N9933 '10' of 405 Flight, attached to HMS 'Glorious'. This machine was with 405 by the summer of 1929.

NEWCASTLE AERO CLUB'S FIRST FLYING MEETING: Some "snaps" taken at Cramlington. Fairey "Flycatchers" from 406 Squadron (Fleet Fighter) visited the meeting and gave fine displays

The Flycatcher entered Royal Navy service with No 402 Flight in 1923, and became a popular item at flying displays because its Jaguar engine had short stub pipes from the exhaust valves and no collector ring - which, when added to the supersonic tips of its fixed-pitch Fairey-Reed metal propeller, created quite a noise in a dive.

NEWCASTLE AERO CLUB'S FIRST FLYING MEETING: Some "snaps" taken at Cramlington. Fairey "Flycatchers" from 406 Squadron (Fleet Fighter) visited the meeting and gave fine displays

Fairey "Flycatcher" (Armstrong Siddeley "Jaguar" or Bristol "Jupiter"). Nominally a single-seater fighter, the "Flycatcher" is adaptable for many roles. Its "cocked-up" fuselage arises from the necessity for a large ground angle, used in conjunction with the Fairey patented flap gear, which makes for slow landings with heavy loading. It functions as a ship's 'plane for naval co-operation, and is also produced as a twin-float seaplane, a design which makes it amphibian, too, for landing wheels project through the centre of the floats. It is used with Fleet Fighter Flights Nos. 401, 402, 403, 404, 405 and 406, on aircraft carriers and at coastal bases.

THE FLEET ABOVE: A Fairey Flycatcher (Jaguar engine) flying over Malta. Below can be seen the hangars of the seaplane station.

The pilot of N9673 of 402 Flight, attached to HMS 'Eagle' having fun around the Maltese coastline, circa 1929. Carrying the individual number '6', note that this has been repeated under the tip of the upper wing

N9619 was delivered to Gosport, Hampshire, during the summer of 1924. Much of its time was spent on development flying, before ending up at the RAF Training Base Leuchars from 1928 - illustrated in late 1930 - and was still active in 1934.

The trio of Fairey Flycatchers flying over the Mediterranean are N9923, N9954 and N9922, all built in 1924. These single-seat carrier-borne fighters were also operated as seaplanes or amphibians. They were powered by a 400 h.p. Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III or IV and were armed with two synchronised Vickers guns. There was also provision for four underwing mounted 20lb bombs. The Flycatcher became the standard FAA fighter for 10 yr until succeeded by Hawker Nimrods and Ospreys from 1934.

S1290, showing its Fairey construction number - F.1114 - behind the serial number. Delivered to Gosport in January 1929, it served with the RAF Training Base Leuchars, Scotland, 1931 to 1933.

1 апреля 1924г.: в британских ВВС создана авиация флота, отвечающая за все палубные операции и действия гидропланов; воздушное наведение и разведка выполнялись экипажами ВМС, прикомандированными к ВВС, которые осуществляли общее руководство авиацией флота и предоставляли экипажи для выполнения различных летных задач. На снимке Fairey Flycatcher.

A further selection from a cinema film, in this case showing a Flycatcher which landed and then got caught in a gust and slewed toward the ship's side before the landing crew had time to catch it; it was then righted, wheeled forward to the lift and sent down.

These three photographs also form a series, and are arranged to show the process of getting the aircraft down by the lift. These lifts are situated one forward and one aft of the flying deck, and are large enough to take the III F when the wings are half folded. The fighters can, of course, be lowered as they are, owing to their comparatively small span. The top photograph shows the Flycatcher being wheeled on to the lift. It should be noted that the wind-screens are raised both at the side and in the front. These screens are raised when the wind interferes with such work on the flying deck, and are lowered again when flying continues. In the second picture, the lift has gone down a little, and the size of the platform can be seen. The bottom photograph was taken from between decks, and shows the lift about half-way down with a Flycatcher on it coming down. Beneath the lift, and forward of it, are other machines of the flight which have already been housed in the hangar.

THE HORNET'S NEST: AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER "COURAGEOUS." THE MACHINES RANGED ON THE FLYING DECK INCLUDE FAIREY "FLYCATCHERS" AND IIIF'S. NOTE THAT BOTH LIFTS ARE DOWN, PRESUMABLY TO FETCH MORE AIRCRAFT.

Three Fairey III F's and three Fairey Flycatchers lined up on the top flying deck. Here again one can get a good idea of the size of this deck, and can see that the landing and taking-off space available is considerably larger than many of the landing fields used by some of our joyriding firms who operate without a constant wind speed over their fields such as can be provided here at will.
Flycatcher S1287, upon which the author's reproduction is based, on HMS Glorious in January 1930.

Our friend "Rupert" in trouble again, this time being retrieved after nearly going "over the end" in Fairey Flycatcher N9662, possibly with No 801 Squadron aboard HMS Courageous in 1930. The Flycatcher was a single-seat fighter powered by the 400 h.p. Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV radial engine. Note the camera gun on the starboard lower wing in this picture.

A Flycatcher just emerging from the upper hangar and starting to fly off. The distance required to take off can be gauged from the fact that in the top photograph the aircraft is just reaching the wind screen, while in the lower picture she has already well cleared it. When taking off in this fashion, the engines are, of course, run up in the hangar while the mechanics hold the aircraft back.

THE FAIREY "FLYCATCHER": This machine, variously fitted with "Jupiter" and "Jaguar" engines, is used extensively by the Fleet Air Arm. It has also been produced as a seaplane and as an amphibian.
The Fairey Flycatcher was the Royal Navy’s only fighter from 1924 until 1932, and proved extremely popular with its pilots, offering a compact, highly manoeuvrable and robust machine which could be easily adapted as a land plane, floatplane or amphibian. Here, S1280 of No 403 Flight takes off from HMS Glorious in 1930.

A Flycatcher taking off from the flying deck, just as it has cleared the forward windscreen, which can now be seen laid prone, and flush with the deck, thus allowing the aircraft to take off over it without damage to their wheels. Another point to notice in this photograph is the steam jet. This jet comes from a steam pipe which opens right in the bows of the ship, and it serves to tell the navigator when the ship is heading directly into wind; this he does by altering course until the steam is going aft over the deck parallel to the landing lines.

A Flycatcher is taking off

Конструктивной особенностью фюзеляжа Flycatcher являлась возможность его быстрой разборки на элементы длиной не более 4,11 м. Авианосец на фотографии - "Игл".

This classic study of Flycatcher N9928 by Charles E. Brown captures the curiously attractive essence of the type, despite its decidedly odd configuration. The metal forward section and the slightly upward-cranked wooden rear section, with its distinctive low-aspect-ratio fin, look as if they are parts of two different aeroplanes.

Fairey Flycatcher из 405-го звена над Мальтой.

THE GRANDE FINALE AT THE R.A.F. DISPLAY: (2) Five Fairey "Flycatcher" Fleet Fighters arrive to the support of the "Seagull."

EVENT 14: AIR BATTLE AND SET PIECE: (2) "Flycatchers" oа the Fleet Fighter Squadron (No.405) open the attack with machine guns

HAMPSHIRE AIR PAGEANT: The Avro "Bison" descending after being defeated by the (distant) Fairey "Flycatcher" in the aerial combat.

A "FLYCATCHER" BOMBS THE CAMP.

Bombing an Encampment: A Flycatcher dropping its eggs.

THE R.A.F. PAGEANT: THE Event of the Day. British aircraft appearing on the scene are fired at with the "Slevic's" anti-aircraft guns, which are (on photo) silenced by a formation of Fairey "Flycatcher" fighters until a formation of Blackburn "Dart" torpedo-carriers discharge their torpedoes.

Strafing an Encampment: The Flycatcher zooms after dropping its bombs.

The author flying his Flycatcher at Old Warden on July 26, 1981.

The picture was taken during one of the author’s displays at Old Warden last year.

The Flycatcher’s unbalanced full-span ailerons make the biplane very heavy on lateral control.

This dramatic view of the Flycatcher clearly shows the top wing dihedral and apparent anhedral on the lower wings.

John Fairey’s Fairey Flycatcher replica

Fairey Flycatcher S1287.

The picture was taken during one of the author’s displays at Old Warden last year.

The state of the art in July 1977.

John Fairey's full-size, Warner-engined Fairey Flycatcher reproduction is well on the way to completion and should fly before too long. It was registered G-BEYB on July 11, 1977, and its c/n is WA/3.

The Flycatcher nearing completion in July 1978 after its trial assembly.

Close-up of pilot’s seat before fuselage covering.

The Fairey oleo-pneumatic undercarriage as fitted on the "Fawn," "Flycatcher," etc. The travel of the wheels is exceptionally long, and the machines can be pancaked from a considerable height without damage.

Running the Pratt & Whitney Junior wasp during the early part of 1979.

Another view of the third prototype Flycatcher, showing the flat-bottomed amphibious floats - the wheels protruded below the flat bottoms of the wooden floats.
The Fairey "Flycatcher" at Croydon "review", 1928: This machine is a single-seater fighter for cooperation with the Navy. It is an amphibian twin-float seaplane and is fitted with a Siddeley "Jaguar" radial air-cooled engine.

ONE LINE OF MACHINES AT CROYDON "REVIEW": In the foreground the Fairey "Flycatcher."

Another view of N165, taken after the fitting of a pair of metal Fairey vee-bottomed floats. The former wooden floats were susceptible to water soakage, which added considerably to the aircraft’s weight.

N9953, the second production Flycatcher amphibian, at Hamble in late 1925. The substantial strut arrangement is evident

Production Flycatcher Is were powered by various marks of Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engine.

Fairey Flycatcher Mk IC N9673, fitted with metal floats. It was discovered that longitudinal stability and aerobatic characteristics were better than for aircraft fitted with wooden floats.

The third prototype Fairey Flycatcher, N165, was originally fitted with a pair of flat-bottomed amphibious floats.

Nice view of one of 408 Flight's amphibious Flycatchers.

N9678 was the first production Flycatcher fitted with amphibious floats (illustrated). It served initially with the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe, Suffolk, in 1924 and is very likely illustrated during their trials.

The best of all worlds? The Flycatcher was convertible into an amphibian, with fixed-axle wheels protruding from a point ahead of the step of the twin floats, and a skid mounted at the rear of the latter. The sight of a Flycatcher apparently taking off from a grass airfield on floats must have caused double-takes for the uninformed!

SALUTING THE DOMINION PREMIERS AT CROYDON: The Fairey "Flycatcher" amphibian

An unidentified Flycatcher floatplane over Malta's Grand Harbour, with Valetta in the background.

Floatplane Flycatcher S1291 was part of the same batch as the original S1284, and is seen here operating from HMS Enterprise. Note the larger fin and rudder fitted to the floatplane to offset the effect of the floats. Detachable fin and rudder units enabled the Flycatcher to be readily convertible from landplane to floatplane.

The cockpit of the author’s reproduction Flycatcher bears little resemblance to the original article. The camber-changing mechanism is situated behind the control column.

The picture of the Flycatcher on its back was taken shortly after the accident at the author’s airstrip on October 4, 1980. The aircraft was repaired and flew again on July 23, 1981.

The picture of the Flycatcher on its back was taken shortly after the accident at the author’s airstrip on October 4, 1980. The aircraft was repaired and flew again on July 23, 1981.

Unidentified Fairey Flycatcher of 405 Flight on July 29, 1931 after Lt Burrough hit the deck at 90 m.p.h. at Hal Far. He was lucky to escape with cuts and concussion.

THE FISHING SEASON! An R.A.F. "Flycatcher" after an impromptu "spring clean"

THE BUILT-UP STEEL-PLATE ENGINE MOUNTING OF THE FAIREY "FLYCATCHER": The engine plate is in four sections, the details of the construction and method of joining being shown in the sketches.

SOME INTERESTING DETAILS ON THE FAIREY "FLYCATCHER": 1, the pilot's cockpit is provided with sliding panels working in grooves and locked in any position by the spring catches shown in 2. In 3 are shown the rudder pedals, which are adjustable to suit pilots of different height. 4 shows the tail-skid assembly of the " Flycatcher." Rubber discs, working in compression provide the springing. Details are given in 5, 6, and 7.