| Flycatcher | |
|---|---|
 Fairey Flycatcher of 401 Flight overHMS Eagle, 1930 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Fairey |
| Primary user | Fleet Air Arm |
| Number built | 196 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1923–1926 |
| Introduction date | 1923 |
| First flight | 28 November 1922 |
| Retired | 1934 |
TheFairey Flycatcher was a British single-seatbiplanecarrier-bornefighter aircraft made byFairey Aviation Company which served from 1923 to 1934. It was produced with a conventional undercarriage forcarrier use, although this could be exchanged forfloats for catapult use aboardcapital ships.
The Flycatcher was designed to meet the requirements ofSpecification N6/22 for a carrier and floatplane fighter to replace theGloster Nightjar, powered by either theArmstrong Siddeley Jaguar or theBristol Jupiterradial engines. Both Fairey andParnall submitted designs to meet this specification, with Fairey producing the Flycatcher, and Parnall theParnall Plover.[1] The first of three prototype Flycatchers made its maiden flight on 28 November 1922, powered by a Jaguar II engine,[2] although it was later fitted with a Jupiter IV.[3] Small orders were placed for both the Flycatcher (for nine aircraft) and Plover (for ten aircraft) to allow service evaluation.[4] After trials, the Flycatcher was ordered for full production.
The Flycatcher was a remarkable design for its time, and was one of the earliest aircraft specifically designed for operation fromaircraft carriers.[5]Flaps ran the entire trailing edges of both wings. These could be lowered for landing and takeoff, providing the aircraft with the capability of using only 50 yd (46 m) of deck space "to come and go."
Thefuselage was made of both wood and metal with fabric covering. A rather cumbersomeundercarriage could be changed for twin floats or a wheel/float combination for amphibian use.
Hydraulic wheel brakes were added to assist the aircraft to stop in the confined space of an aircraft carrier.Arrestor hooks on the undercarriage spreader bar were a feature of early models, designed to engage thearrestor wires strung out on the carrier deck.
Production of the Flycatcher began at Fairey's Hayes factory in 1923, entering service with No. 402 FlightFleet Air Arm. The Flycatcher was flown from allBritish carriers of its era. Some 192 were produced. A typical deployment was on the aircraft carrierHMS Courageous, where 16 Flycatchers served alongside 16Blackburn Ripons and 16 reconnaissance aircraft.
Very popular with pilots, the Flycatchers were easy to fly and very manoeuvrable. It was in these aircraft that the Fleet Air Arm developed the combat tactics used in theSecond World War.
The Flycatcher saw service with theHome,Mediterranean,East Indies andChina fleets.During its service on theChina station, the Flycatcher was active against Chinesepirates in the waters nearHong Kong.
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No aircraft survives, but theFleet Air Arm Museum holds a replica Flycatcher that was built in 1977. Registered as G-BEYB, it was flown until 1996, when it was put on static display. It is currently held in the museum's reserve collection, to which the public has only occasional access.[6]
Data fromThe British Fighter since 1912[7]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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