FAIREY FOX
- The original Fairey Fox two-seat high-speed bomber was designed around the
450 hp Curtiss D-12 engine by Marcel Lobelle in
1924. first flight being on January 3,
1925. Production of later versions includ-ed 201 for the Aeronautique
Militaire Beige, of which the following were in ser-vice in 1940, some
65 operational sorties being made in May and about 17 Fairey Foxes then evacuated
to France, where they sur-vived, unflown, until 1944.
Fairey Fox II: Open-cockpit two-seat recon-naissance-fighter powered by 480 hp
Kestrel US, with one fixed forward-firing FN 0.30-in (7.62-mm) and one
similar gun on Fairey high-speed mount in rear cockpit, and eight 22-lb
(10-kg) bombs under wings. Twelve Fairey-built and 26 from Avions Fairey
in Belgium delivered 1931-1934; in service 1940 with three escadrilles
of I, II and III observation Groupes, after modification to add cockpit
canopies.
Fairey Fox HI: As Mk II with two forward-firing machine guns. Fifteen built with
open cockpits and 46 IIIC with enclosed
cockpits, plus six HIS dual control train-ers. In service 1940 with five
escadrilles of I, II and III Groupes.
Fairey Fox VI: Reconnaissance-fighter similar to Fairey Fox II with 860 hp Hispario-Suiza
12 Vdrs engine. Twenty-five VIR and 57 VIC, respectively with reconnaissance
and combat equipment, built for AeMB; in service 1940 with three escadrilles
of III Groupe.
Max speed, 227 mph
(365 km/h) at 13,120 ft (4,000 m). Time to 16,400ft (5,000 m), 6.5 min.
Ceiling, 36,090ft (11,000 m). Endurance, 2 hr 45 min. Empty weight, 3,680
Ib (1,670 kg). Gross weight, 5,396 Ib (2,450 kg). Span, 38 ft 0 in (11.58
m). Length, 28 ft 8 in (9.04 m).
Fairey Fox VIII: Final production
version, as Fairey Fox VI with three-blade Ratier propeller and other
improvements. Twelve deliv-ered 1938-39 and in service 1940 with one escadrille
of III Groupe.
