Fairey N.9

N.9

National origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Fairey Aviation Company
First flight: 5 July 1917
Status: Prototype
Number built: 1

The Fairey N.9 (also known as the F.127) was a British experimental floatplane of the First World War. Although only one was built, it carried out the first shipborne catapult launches from Royal Navy ships, and was later sold to Norway.

Development and design

In 1917, Fairey Aviation produced two separate designs to meet Admiralty Specification N.2(a) for a two-seat carrier-based seaplane for the Royal Naval Air Service, one powered by a Rolls-Royce Falcon engine, and a larger aircraft powered by a more powerful Sunbeam Maori. The smaller aircraft, usually known by its serial number N.9, but also known by its constructer's number F.127 flew first on 5 July 1917, with the larger aircraft (serial number N.10), the prototype Fairey III, flying in September.

N.9 was a compact biplane with single-bay wings of unequal span that folded back for shipboard stowage. It was fitted with trailing edge flaps on both the upper and lower wings. Power was from a 200 hp (149 kW) Rolls-Royce Falcon engine with radiators on each side of the engine.

Its performance was below the requirements of the specification, and no production followed.

Operational history

Although not chosen for production, N.9 was chosen for trials of catapult launching. After strengthening, it was sent to the Port Victoria Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot for tests with the catapult trials ship, HMS Slinger in June 1918, carrying out he first catapult launches of a seaplane from a Royal Navy ship.

N.9 was brought back from the Royal Navy and fitted with a Maori engine and equal span wings, being sold to the Royal Norwegian Navy in May 1920. It was sold for civil use in 1927, and wrecked in a crash on 12 June 1928.

Specifications

Data from Fairey Aircraft since 1915

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 35 ft 6 in (9.82 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Height: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Wing area: 456 sq ft (42.4 m²)
Empty weight: 2,699 lb (1,227 kg)
Loaded weight: 3,812 lb (1,733 kg)
Powerplant: 1x— Rolls-Royce Falcon I water-cooled V12 engine, 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 90 mph (78 knots, 145 km/h) at sea level
Service ceiling: 8,600 ft (2,600 m)
Endurance: 5¼ hours
Climb to 2,000 ft (610 m): 4 min 10 sec
Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m) 38 min

Armament

Guns: 1x— .303 in Lewis gun on Scarff ring in rear cockpit.
Bombs: Provision for two 112 lb (51 kg) bombs

Related development

Fairey III

Bruce, J.M. British Aircraft 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London:Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0 85177 861 5.
Taylor, H.A. Fairey Aircraft since 1915. London:Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-00065-x.

Fairey N.9 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia