Fairey Firefly
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The Fairey Firefly was designed by the British Fairey Aviation Company in 1941 as a two seat carrier borne long range anti-submarine / reconnaissance fighter aircraft for the Royal Navy. It went into production in August 1942 with 1,700 aircraft built. They first saw service with the Royal Navy in 1943, engaged in the European and Pacific theatres of WW2.
The Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm was formed in 1947 and consisted of two Majestic class light fleet aircraft carriers HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne together with their respective Carrier Air Groups (CAG). The Navy chose and ordered 108 of the Fairy Fireflys and they would be complimented in the CAGs with Hawker Sea Fury aircraft. The first of the Fireflys was delivered from Britain by way of HMAS Sydney and a loan carrier from the RN in May 1949, and the last in August 1953.
With Australia becoming involved in the Korean conflict in September 1950, the HMAS Sydney sortied on deployment to the conflict in August 1951 and commenced launching air strikes on the Korean peninsula on October 5 1951. Their tasks were armed reconnaissance and attacking lines of communication including rail and road bridges. Many of the aircraft were damaged by North Korean defences, with five of the aircraft lost to flak in December 1951. Further loses were suffered in later sorties.
In April 1955 following budget cuts, only one aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, due to arrive in 1956 newly modified for the operation of jet aircraft would be retained, resulting in the Firefly's primary role ceasing whereby disposal of the type commenced and by 1956 most had been disposed of except for a few retained on secondary duties until 1959.
The Museum's Firefly WD 827 was delivered to No 817 Squadron at Nowra Naval Air Station in New South Wales on December 10 1950. On July 21 1952 it was assigned to No 723 Squadron with the Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare School at Nowra. It was then transferred to Schofields Naval Air Station on June 8 1954, and returned to Nowra as an instructional airframe on November 14 1954. It was sold to the Australian Air League at Blacktown New South Wales on November 2 1956, and the Museum acquired it from there in March 1973, and is currently on display.
TECHNICAL DATA
Crew : 2
Power plant : 1 x 2,300hp Rolls Royce Griffin 74 V12 piston engine.
Length : 37'11'' (11.56m) Wingspan : 41'02'' (12.55m) Height : 14'04'' (4.37m)
Weights : empty - 9,674lbs (4,388kg) maximum - 15,615lbs (7,083)
Speeds : max at sea level - 287kt (330mph) (531km/hr) max at 14,000ft - 319kt (367mph) (591km/hr)
Range : 760 miles (1,220km)
Armament : 4 x 20 mm Hispano canon.
Ordnance : max of 16 x RP-3 60lb rocket projectiles and or 2 x 1,000lb bombs.
The Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm was formed in 1947 and consisted of two Majestic class light fleet aircraft carriers HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne together with their respective Carrier Air Groups (CAG). The Navy chose and ordered 108 of the Fairy Fireflys and they would be complimented in the CAGs with Hawker Sea Fury aircraft. The first of the Fireflys was delivered from Britain by way of HMAS Sydney and a loan carrier from the RN in May 1949, and the last in August 1953.
With Australia becoming involved in the Korean conflict in September 1950, the HMAS Sydney sortied on deployment to the conflict in August 1951 and commenced launching air strikes on the Korean peninsula on October 5 1951. Their tasks were armed reconnaissance and attacking lines of communication including rail and road bridges. Many of the aircraft were damaged by North Korean defences, with five of the aircraft lost to flak in December 1951. Further loses were suffered in later sorties.
In April 1955 following budget cuts, only one aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, due to arrive in 1956 newly modified for the operation of jet aircraft would be retained, resulting in the Firefly's primary role ceasing whereby disposal of the type commenced and by 1956 most had been disposed of except for a few retained on secondary duties until 1959.
The Museum's Firefly WD 827 was delivered to No 817 Squadron at Nowra Naval Air Station in New South Wales on December 10 1950. On July 21 1952 it was assigned to No 723 Squadron with the Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare School at Nowra. It was then transferred to Schofields Naval Air Station on June 8 1954, and returned to Nowra as an instructional airframe on November 14 1954. It was sold to the Australian Air League at Blacktown New South Wales on November 2 1956, and the Museum acquired it from there in March 1973, and is currently on display.
TECHNICAL DATA
Crew : 2
Power plant : 1 x 2,300hp Rolls Royce Griffin 74 V12 piston engine.
Length : 37'11'' (11.56m) Wingspan : 41'02'' (12.55m) Height : 14'04'' (4.37m)
Weights : empty - 9,674lbs (4,388kg) maximum - 15,615lbs (7,083)
Speeds : max at sea level - 287kt (330mph) (531km/hr) max at 14,000ft - 319kt (367mph) (591km/hr)
Range : 760 miles (1,220km)
Armament : 4 x 20 mm Hispano canon.
Ordnance : max of 16 x RP-3 60lb rocket projectiles and or 2 x 1,000lb bombs.