SEPTEMBER 23,

1920

The Fairey seaplane : Details of the amphibian gear

for skilful pilots always, and the " Kittiwake " will probably be found to do quite well in the hands of Capt. Macmillan. The Fairey III Amphibian Seaplane. 450 h.p. Napier " Lion." The machine entered by the Fairey Aviation Co. is similar in general lay-out to the well-known Fairey, Series III, except that the pilot sits aft of the centre section instead jof between the planes. The passengers, who are placed side by side, occupy a cockpit aft of that of the pilot. A low wind-screen runs across the deck in front of their cockpit, otherwise they are free to look over the side and enjoy the view. There is no partition between the two bulkheads, the only division between them being the deck fairing. The fuselage is a rectangular girder of ash members, covered with fabric except the front portion, which is an aluminium

cowl around the Napier engine. The radiators are placed on the sides of the fuselage, and eacrfhas mounted on the sides of the body in front of it a hinged shutter, which for maximum cowling lies flat against the side of the body, while for minimum cooling it swings outwards, thus deflecting rather than blanketing the air. A starting handle for the engine projects on the starboard side, and in addition a mechanical starter is fitted, the hand starter being used only in case of breakdowns of the other starter. Control is by means of a wheel mounted on a rocking column, and a pedal for the rudder. The camber gear for operating the hinged trailing portion of the wings is in the form of a wheel mounted in the pilot's cockpit. The whole of the trailing edge, including the ailerons, is operated by this wheel, but the ailerons still retain their differential motion. An indicator is fitted which shows the pilot the exact angle that the camber flaps form with the chord line. The retractable land , undercarriage which forms part of the amphibian gear is operated by a wheel in the pilot's cockpit. The main planes of the Fairey are of the usual Fairey type, having the whole trailing edge hinged so as to form a variable camber. This particular method of cambering the wings is the subject of a Fairey patent. The wings are designed to be folded both for housing and, if desired, when the machine is on the sea. Normally the long main floats extend sufficiently far aft to keep the tail off the water, but when the wings are folded the weight of the wings causes the tail to drop, and the tail float with which the machine is fitted then comes into

ON THE FAIREY AMPHIBIAN : Two single-acting water rudders are fitted on the outer corners of the float sterns. A rubber cord pulls the rudder inwards

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The tail skid of the Fairey Amphibian is built up of wood laminations THE FAIREY III AMPHIBIAN : View of tail, tail float and skid IOI5