Fairey IIIF
Fairey Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1926 · transport aircraft
The Fairey IIIF was a British two- or three-seat general-purpose biplane that served with both the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm from 1927, becoming the most widely used Royal Navy aircraft type of the interwar period. More than 350 examples were built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.46 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large two-bay biplane with prominent Napier Lion W-12 engine and frontal radiator
- Folding outer wing panels for carrier stowage
- Open rear cockpit with Scarff ring gun mount
A large two-bay biplane readily identified by the distinctive W-12 Napier Lion engine with its broad frontal radiator, and by folding wings and a Scarff ring on the rear cockpit.
Specifications
- The Fairey IIIF has a length of 10.46 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.94 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
- Typical crew: 2–3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flying on 20 April 1926 to Air Ministry Specification 19/24, the IIIF entered service in Egypt with the RAF and on Royal Navy warships as a catapult-launched spotter-reconnaissance type. It also served with the Argentine and Brazilian navies. Declared obsolete in 1940, surviving airframes continued as target tugs until 1941.
Variants
The Mk III, IIIFMk III, and Mk IV were the principal production versions, differing in engine marks, equipment fits, and whether configured as landplane or floatplane. A Long-Range variant flew the 1929 RAF long-distance record attempt.
Where you'll see it
Served extensively with the Fleet Air Arm across multiple aircraft carriers and shore bases from 1927 to 1940; the RAF used it in the Middle East and India. Saw limited wartime use as a target tug.
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- Fokker Universal
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