Fairey Firefly

[SinUnNombre]

Since I have a few days off in a row with internet access, I need to get my fix of in-depth whiff discussion. Since my CAS Avenger is still sidelined due to supply shortages(aren't they all?), Ive been looking into other WW2 planes that could've been modified for the CAS role. One interesting possibility that keeps popping up is the Fairey Firefly. 4 20mm's, a 3000lb loadout, great low-speed and low-level handling, etc. What do you guys think? Like I said, I'd like to get a good discussion going in this and some other topics I'll be posting this weekend. So if you guys have any other ideas for this topic, by all means post them. Later.

Jon

[Captain Canada]

Great idea, Jon.....but it's gotta have tip tanks !

 

[Ollie]

I talked with the CWH Firefly pilot the other day and he told that you had to watch your speed, because it decays very fast and it's a heavy aircraft that will eat lots of altitude to recover lost airspeed.

[GTX]

How about a P-61?

Regards,

Greg

[B777LR]

How about a P-61?

These have already been used as ground attack fighters in china, when teh japanese bombers stopped bombing.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Now the idea of a Firefly performing CAS missions is something that I would have never considered but your idea certainly has merit.  

If you are going to pimp out the P-61 you may as well add wing tip tanks to it to keep Toad happy.  Make him even happier you can put RCAF markings on it.  

[GTX]

If you are going to pimp out the P-61 you may as well add wing tip tanks to it to keep Toad happy. Make him even happier you can put RCAF markings on it.

I was actually thinking of something similar to this for the P-61 (right down to the paint scheme and era) - i.e. loaded up with plenty of weapons:



Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Jon,

Just thinking some more about the Firefly. Another benefit in the CAS (and perhaps closely related FAC role) role would be the observer.  Also, could one say that this aircraft did indeed fly in the CAS role during the Korean War (RAN and RN?)?

Regards,

Greg

[SinUnNombre]

Jon,

Just thinking some more about the Firefly. Another benefit in the CAS (and perhaps closely related FAC role) role would be the observer.  Also, could one say that this aircraft did indeed fly in the CAS role during the Korean War (RAN and RN?)?

Regards,

Greg

You know, I hadn't thought about that, but your right. The Firefly was used as a recce bird during the war, so what better role post-war than FAC.  Great thinking GTX. Now where can I get my hands on a 1/72 Firefly kit?

Jon

[Howard of Effingham]

would it be sacrilege to suggest a re-engine with an over 2,100hp radial engine?

iirc, the merlin/griffon [forget which] was only rated at about 1750hp and i have
a feeling that more power is gonna be needed for a 3,000lb bombload.

trevor

[Mossie]

I've just received Fairey Firefly by W. Harrison. There's a fair bit of potential for whiffery here. Some propsals have diagrams, but there's more in the text. These include:

Early design to N8/39 with RR Griffon, RR Boreas, Bristol Taurus and Fairey Queen. N9/39 was the same but with a turret.

Single seat version. This was a different smaller design, quite pretty. It had the option of being converted to a two seater with a raised area behind the hood.

Mixed powerplant. Griffon up front with a Whittle jet in the rear, fed by retractable intakes just behind the teardrop cockpit.

Belly radiator to improve drag.

All the above have drawings, I'll see about putting pictures up.

Bristol Centaurus (to answer Trevors question from 19  years ago), RR X45 Pennine and Napier Sabre were all investigated.

Twin coupled Merlin. The cockpit would have been in the nose with the two Merlins behind it driving contract rotating prpos and being capable of independent control.

Twin Firefly.  Side by side like the Twin Mustang, with Merlin powerplant.

Several governments inquired about the Firefly:
Argentina (Navy)
Afghanistan
France (Navy)
Finland
Iraq (with a .50 in the rear cockpit, trialled but not enough room with a large gunner)
Egypt
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Other nations were believed to have been interested but the documentation hasn't survived.

[PR19_Kit]

Twin coupled Merlin. The cockpit would have been in the nose with the two Merlins behind it driving contract rotating prpos and being capable of independent control.

That would make an excellent Whiff! 

[kerick]

Twin coupled Merlin. The cockpit would have been in the nose with the two Merlins behind it driving contract rotating prpos and being capable of independent control.

That would make an excellent Whiff! 

I would hate to be the pilot of that. Definitely the first person at the accident site with two engines close behind.