Avions Fairey Fox III

Avions Fairey · Belgium · first flew 1932 · bomber

The Fox III was a significantly improved Belgian-built variant featuring a new engine installation and refined aerodynamics, offering notably higher performance than its predecessors. It served as a front-line light bomber with the Belgian Air Force through the 1930s.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Two-seat biplane with streamlined monocoque fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Hispano-Suiza 12-cylinder engine in long nose cowl
Two-seat biplane with streamlined monocoque fuselage
Belgian-built Fox variant with redesigned forward fuselage

The Fox III's longer nose cowl housing the Hispano-Suiza V-12 distinguishes it from earlier radial-engined Fox variants; the slim biplane airframe with two-bay wings is shared across the family.

Specifications

The Avions Fairey Fox III has a length of 9.6 m (31 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.58 m (38 ft).
Its maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Avions Fairey developed the Fox III with a more powerful Hispano-Suiza engine that pushed speed well above 300 km/h, making it one of the fastest biplanes of its era. The type equipped several Belgian escadrilles before being relegated to training as war approached.

Variants

The Fox III spawned the Fox IIIS (seaplane) and IIIC (cannon-armed) variants; the IIIC was the most potent of the Belgian Fox series.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Belgian Aéronautique Militaire through the late 1930s; some examples were still in service at the time of the German invasion in May 1940.

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