Fairey Firefly I

Fairey Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1925 · fighter

The Fairey Firefly I (1925) was a British single-seat biplane fighter developed as a private venture by Fairey Aviation, distinct from the much later World War II carrier aircraft of the same name. It was an advanced design for its period, featuring tapered wings and a high speed for a mid-1920s fighter.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.57 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

1920s single-seat biplane fighter with tapered wings and balanced ailerons
Inline engine with frontal radiator and open cockpit
Not to be confused with the later WW2 Fairey Firefly fleet fighter

A neat single-bay biplane with tapered wings, an inline engine, and a clean profile; distinguished from later Fireflies by its open cockpit and biplane configuration.

Specifications

The Fairey Firefly I has a length of 7.57 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
Its maximum speed is 298 km/h (185 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Fairey produced the Firefly I to compete for RAF fighter contracts in the mid-1920s but it did not win a production order against rival designs. The aircraft demonstrated Fairey's capability in fighter design though the company became better known for naval aircraft.

Variants

A small number of Firefly I aircraft were sold to Belgium, representing the only export success for this type.

Where you'll see it

Not adopted by the RAF; a small batch served with the Belgian Aeronautique Militaire in the late 1920s, where it was a capable if short-lived fighter.

Related aircraft

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