| Fairey N.4 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Long-range reconnaissance flying-boat |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Fairey Aviation Company |
| First flight | 4 July 1923 |
| Number built | 2 |
The Fairey N.4 was a 1920s British five-seat long range reconnaissance flying boat. Designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company to meet an Admiralty requirement for a very large four-engined reconnaissance aircraft, it was the world's biggest flying boat when it first flew in 1923.[1]
Development[]
Following an increase in experience with flying boats in 1917 the Admiralty issued Specification N.4.[1] The specification called for a four-engined long-range reconnaissance flying boat.[1] The admiralty ordered two aircraft from Fairey and one from Phoenix Dynamo.[1] Fairey sub-contracted the building of the first to Dick, Kerr & Co. of Lytham St. Annes.
Not unusual for the era, the design was a biplane, with the engines mounted as two push-pull pairs between the upper and lower wing, each driving a four-bladed propeller.
The first N.4 (named Atalanta) first flew in 1923 powered by four 650 hp (485 kW) Rolls-Royce Condor IA piston engines.[1] The hull had been built in Southampton (by the Gosport Aircraft Company[2]) and delivered to Lytham St. Annes for assembly and the complete aircraft was then dismantled and taken by road to the Isle of Grain for its first flight.[1]
The second N.4 Mk II (named Titania) included improvements and later variant Condor III engines.[1] Titania was not flown straight away and was stored, not flying until 1925.[1]
The rival Phoenix Dynamo N.4 was built but never flown and was scrapped as the service lost interest in large flying boats.[1]
Specifications (Mk II Titania)[]
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Length: 60 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
- Wingspan: 139 ft 0 in (42.37 m)
- Wing area: 2900 ft2 (269.41 m2)
- Gross weight: 31612 lb (14339 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce Condor III Vee piston engine, 650 hp (485 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)
- Endurance: 9 hours 0 min
- Service ceiling: 14,100 ft (4300 m)
Armament
See also[]
- Phoenix Dynamo N.4
- List of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairey. |
Notes[]
Images[]
Bibliography[]
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
The original article can be found at Fairey N.4 and the edit history here.