Fairey Seafox

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fairey Seafox
Description
Role Cruiser-borne reconnaissance floatplane
Crew
First Flight 1936
Entered Service 1938
Manufacturer Fairey Aviation
Dimensions
Length 32 ft 8 in 10.0 m
Wingspan 40 ft 0 in 12.2 m
Height 12 ft 1 in 3.7 m
Wing area 434 ft² 40.3 m²
Weights
Empty 3,805 lb 1,725 kg
Loaded 5,420 lb 2,450 kg
Maximum takeoff lb kg
Powerplant
Engine Napier Rapier VI
Power 380 hp 280 kW
Performance
Maximum speed 124 mph 200 km/h
Combat range 440 miles 710 km
Ferry range miles km
Service ceiling 11,000 ft 3,350 m
Rate of climb 420 ft/min 128 m/min

The Fairey Seafox was a Second World War reconnaissance floatplane of the Fleet Air Arm designed to be catapulted from the deck of a warship. Only 64 were ever built.

Built to specification S 11/32, the prototype appeared in 1936 and the first production versions were delivered to cruisers etc in 1938.

The fuselage was of all-metal monocoque construction, the wings were covered with metal on the leading edge, otherwise fabric. It was powered by a sixteen cylinder 395 hp (295 kW) air-cooled Napier Rapier engine. It reached speeds of 106 mph (171 km/h), had a range of 440 miles (708 km).

In 1939 a Seafox played a part in the attack on the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee by spotting for the naval gunners. This led to the ship's destruction in the Battle of the River Plate.

They were utilized through 1943.

[edit] Operators

Related content
Related development

Fairey Fox

Similar aircraft

SOC Seagull - Mitsubishi F1M

Designation series
Related lists

List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm


In other languages