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Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 30
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Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 29. Chapters: Fairey III, High Speed Flight RAF, Supermarine S.6B, Gloster III, Macchi M.39, Gloster IV, Macchi M.C.72, Sopwith 1919 Schneider Cup Seaplane, Gloster VI, Sopwith Tabloid, Macchi M.67, Macchi M.52, Supermarine S.5, Supermarine S.4, Piaggio P.7, SIAI S.51, Curtiss CR, Blackburn Pellet, Supermarine Sea Lion II, Avro 539, Macchi M.33, Macchi M.17, SIAI S.17, SIAI S.21, Macchi M.7, SIAI S.22, SIAI S.19, Savoia-Marchetti S.65, Short Crusader, Solent Sky, Bernard H.V.40, SIAI S.12, Bernard H.V.41, Bernard H.V.42. Excerpt: The Fairey Aviation Company Fairey III was a family of British reconnaissance biplanes that enjoyed a very long production and service history in both landplane and seaplane variants. First flying on 14 September 1917, examples were still in use during the Second World War. The prototype of the Fairey III was the N.10 floatplane, which was designed and built in 1917 by Fairey Aviation (along with the smaller N.9) to meet Admiralty Specification N.2(a) for a carrier-based seaplane for the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. N.10, also known by its constructer's number F.128 was a two-bay biplane with folding wings and powered by a 260 hp (190 kW) Sunbeam Maori engine. It first flew from the Port Victoria seaplane station on the Isle of Grain, Kent on 14 September 1917. Following tests both as a floatplane and with a conventional wheeled undercarriage, production orders were placed for two versions both powered by the Maori, the IIIA and IIIB, with 50 and 60 aircraft planned, respectively. The Fairey IIIA was a reconnaissance aircraft intended to operate from aircraft carriers, and as such was fitted with a wheeled or skid undercarriage, while the IIIB was intended as a floatplane bomber, with larger span (increased from 46 ft 2 in/14.19 m to 62 ft 9 in/19.13 m) upper wings and a bombload...