Fairey Ferret

The Fairey Ferret was a 1930s British general-purpose biplane designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company.[1] It performed well in trials but was not ordered into production.[1]

Ferret
Ferret Mk.III
Role Two-seat general-purpose biplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Fairey Aviation Company
First flight June 1925
Number built 3

Development

The Ferret was designed to meet a Fleet Air Arm requirement defined by specification 37/22[2] for a reconnaissance aircraft; it was the company's first all-metal design.[1] With a lack of interest from the FAA the company proposed the design to meet a Royal Air Force requirement for a general-purpose biplane.[1]

The company built three prototypes, two were three-seaters (to meet the naval requirement) and the third was a two-seater.[1] The two-seater Ferret III was also fitted with a new Fairey-designed high-speed gun mounting in the rear cockpit.[1] The first prototype first flew in June 1925 powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV radial engine.[1] The other two aircraft had a nine-inch extension to the wingspan and both were fitted with a 425 hp (317 kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine.[1]

The aircraft performed well during trials at RAF Martlesham Heath but was not ordered into production.[1]

Variants
Fairey Ferret I
Ferret Mk I
Three-seat prototype powered by a 400hp (298kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IVl radial engine, one built.[1]
Ferret Mk II
Three-seat prototype powered by a 425hp (317kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine, one built.[1]
Ferret Mk III
Two-seat prototype powered by a 425hp (317kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine, one built.[1]

Specifications (Ferret III)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
  • Wingspan: 40 ft 7 in (12.37 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
  • Wing area: 380 sq ft (35.30 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,583 lb (1,172 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,765 lb (2,161 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Jupiter VI 9-cylinder radial engine , 425 hp (317 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,725 m)
  • Rate of climb: 920 ft/min (4.67 m/s) initial [2]

Armament

  • 1 × fixed forward-firing 0.303in (7.7mm) Vickers machine-gun (on starboard side of fuselage)
  • 1 × 0.303in (7.7mm) Lewis machine-gun in rear cockpit
  • Up to 500lb (227kg) bombs fitted under wings

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairey Ferret.

Notes
  1. Orbis 1985, pp. 1695-1696
  2. Taylor 1974, pp. 129–133

Bibliography
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
  • Taylor, H.A. (1974). Fairey Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0-370-00065-X.
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