Fairey Ferret

Development

The Ferret was designed to meet a Fleet Air Arm requirement defined by specification 37/22 for a reconnaissance aircraft; it was the company's first all-metal design. With a lack of interest from the FAA the company proposed the design to meet a Royal Air Force requirement for a general-purpose biplane.

The company built three prototypes, two were three-seaters (to meet the naval requirement) and the third was a two-seater. The two-seater Ferret III was also fitted with a new Fairey-designed high-speed gun mounting in the rear cockpit. The first prototype first flew in June 1925 powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV radial engine. The other two aircraft had a nine-inch extension to the wingspan and both were fitted with a 425 hp (317 kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine.

The aircraft performed well during trials at RAF Martlesham Heath but was not ordered into production.

Variants

Ferret Mk I

Three-seat prototype powered by a 400hp (298kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IVl radial engine, one built.

Ferret Mk II

Three-seat prototype powered by a 425hp (317kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine, one built.

Ferret Mk III

Two-seat prototype powered by a 425hp (317kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine, one built.

Specifications (Ferret III)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: two

Length: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)

Wingspan: 40 ft 7 in (12.37 m)

Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)

Wing area: 380 ft² (35.30 m²)

Empty weight: 2,583 lb (1,172 kg)

Gross weight: 4,765 lb (2,161 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Jupiter VI 9-cylinder radial engine, 425 hp (317 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)135 mph (217 km/h)

Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,725 m)

Rate of climb: initial 920 ft/min (4.67 m/s)

Armament

1 × fixed forward-firing 0.303in (7.7mm) Vickers machine-gun (on starboard side of fuselage)

1 × 0.303in (7.7mm) Lewis machine-gun in rear cockpit

Up to 500lb (227kg) bombs fitted under wings