Talk:Felixstowe Fury

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[edit] Manufacturer of the Felixstowe Fury?

Although the major source of much of the information (contributions to The Aerodrome Forum) states that the Felixstowe Fury was "delivered" to Felixstowe (implying that it was not constructed there), I have been unable to find out from online sources where it was made. There is a photograph of the Fury, probably under construction (or during maintenance?) here [1], but no real clue as to where this is. Due to the logistics of moving such a large aircraft by road, a local manufacturer is a good possibility.

Any information? Thanks. --TraceyR (talk) 00:36, 18 January 2008 (UTC)

A quick look around appears to indicate the Commander Porte built his own flying boats at Felixstowe, one reference [2]. MilborneOne (talk) 13:18, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for the intersting reference; I should have searched on "Super-Baby"!

While it is true that some of his aircraft were built at Felixstowe, most were built elsewhere. The F2/F3/F5 were contracted out to several manufacturers, with less than a handful being built at Felxstowe altogether; it doesn't even seem to be the case that he built the prototypes and then distributed the designs. Even the Porte Baby was built in Southampton. The reference to its being "delivered to Felixstowe" is tantalising.Aeroplane Forum. The search goes on. --TraceyR (talk) 14:22, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

Just to add only the ten production Porte Babies were built in Southampton not the prototype! MilborneOne (talk) 19:40, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

Just to add [3] Shed 22 is a steel-framed structure built in 1915. It was originally used for assembly of the Curtis flying boat, which had been imported in kit-form from the USA. During and after World War I it was used for the development of the Felixstowe series of flying boats. The building has been modified and reclad. English Heritage considers its significant to lie in its being probably the last surviving flying boat assembly building and its links to John Porte.. MilborneOne (talk) 20:10, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. I read something about that today! About the Baby: the entry in the British Aircraft Directory, referenced by the article, is incorrect about all 11 being made in Southampton. We ought to reference a different source which states that the prototype was produced at Felixstowe. Can you help with that? --TraceyR (talk) 20:23, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

A fact from Felixstowe Fury appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know? column on 22 January 2008.

The Flight PDF Archive referred to under "Specifications" contains the following statement:

"All prototypes were built at the Seaplane Experimental Station, Felixstowe. Production was undertaken by the following contractors:

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hendon, London, N.W. (May, Harden and May, Southampton Water): Porte Baby, F.2A and F.5.

Dick, Kerr and Co., Ltd., Preston: F.3.

The Gosport Aircraft Co., Ltd., Gosport: F.5.

Dockyard Constructional Unit, Malta: F.3.

The Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Bradford: F.3.

S. E. Saunders, Ltd., East Cowes, Isle of Wight: F.2A and F.5.

Short Brothers, Ltd., Rochester: F.3 and F.5.

The Norman Thompson Flight Co., Bognor Regis: F.2A hulls.

Canadian Aeroplanes, Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada: F.5.

U.S. Naval Aircraft Factory, League Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: F-5L."

This would appear to confirm that the Fury was indeed built at Felixstowe. Was there a manufacturing unit in Felixstowe, distinct from the Seaplane Experimental Station, from which delivery could have been taken? --TraceyR (talk) 17:32, 27 January 2008 (UTC)