Canadian Warplanes 1: Fairey IIIF Mk. IV G.P. floatplane

Fairey IIIF Mk. IV G.P.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo, AM1535-: CVA 99-2155)

Fairey IIIF Mk. IV G.P. floatplane (1), RCAF (Serial No. J9172), Jericho Beach, BC ca 1930.  This is the sole British-built Fairley IIIF to serve in Canada.  It was used for trials October 1929 to September 1930.

The Fairey IIIF was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification 19/24 for a three-seat spotter/reconnaissance aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm and a two-seat general purpose aircraft for the Royal Air Force. The IIIF, which first flew on 20 April 1926,[7] had a more streamlined engine installation and initially a fuselage of mixed metal and wooden construction, with similar wings to the IIID, although later production aircraft were fitted with an all-metal fuselages and wings.[8]Over 350 IIIFs were operated by the Fleet Air Arm, making it the most widely used type of aircraft in Fleet Air Arm service between the wars[9] and also the second most produced British military aircraft of the inter-war years behind the Hawker Hart family. Three IIIFs were modified as a radio-controlled gunnery trainer, known as the Fairey Queen. The Fairey IIIF was also the basis for development of the Gordon and Seal. (Wikipedia)

(Shearwater Aviation Museum Photo)

Fairey IIIF in RN service.

(Air Historical Branch-RAF/MOD Photo)

Pictured are three Fairey IIIFs of 47 Squadron on the Blue Nile at Khartoum before departing for a series of exploratory flights over Southern Sudan on 8 July 1930.

(USN Photo)

Fairey IIIF, HMS Furious, ca. early 1930s.  The Mk. IV GP was a two-seat general-purpose biplane or three-seat spotter-reconnaissance biplane powered by a Napier Lion XIA engine.  Two examples exist; one can be seen at the FAA Museum, Yeovilton, UK, and the other at the Naval Museum in Lisbon, Portugal.

(Author Photo)

(Author Photo)

Fairey IIID floatplane on display in the Marine Museum, Lisbon, Portugal.

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