Military Wiki
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

  • 0.303in (7.7mm) Lewis machine-gun (in nose and beam positions)
  • 1000lb (454kg) of bombs
  • See also[]

    • Phoenix Dynamo N.4
    • List of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft

    References[]

    Notes[]

    Images[]

    An artist's impression

    Bibliography[]

    • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
    All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
    The original article can be found at Fairey N.4 and the edit history here.