Fairey Swordfish

[tigercat]

But the ones available in Britain were a lot shorter . So you'd need the Swordfish Triplane to land on HMS Stoat , HMS Ferret and HMS Mink

[Old Wombat]

As the Swordfish would take off in a stiff breeze as it was, I don't think a triplane version is required.

[PR19_Kit]

At an RAF BoB display at Abingdon many years ago, the FAA Historical flight bought their first Swordfish along, the one coded 5A back then, and at first they reckoned it was too windy for it to fly.

Later on in the afternoon, after they'd had a noggin or two I suspect, they figured it wasn't as breezy as previously so they took 5A out. Its take-off run was about four fuselage lengths and the climb-out was about as steep as a Harrier's! To further show their prowess they then flew a 'reverse loop' effectively, by throttling back at the top of the climb and tracking backwards across the airfield before throttling down a bit more and landing, also in a ridiculously short distance. 

They got louder applause than any of the fast jets or the assault demo by Argosies and Andovers earlier. 

[kitnut617]

At an RAF BoB display at Abingdon many years ago, the FAA Historical flight bought their first Swordfish along, the one coded 5A back then, and at first they reckoned it was too windy for it to fly.

Later on in the afternoon, after they'd had a noggin or two I suspect, they figured it wasn't as breezy as previously so they took 5A out. Its take-off run was about four fuselage lengths and the climb-out was about as steep as a Harrier's! To further show their prowess they then flew a 'reverse loop' effectively, by throttling back at the top of the climb and tracking backwards across the airfield before throttling down a bit more and landing, also in a ridiculously shirt distance. 

They got louder applause than any of the fast jets or the assault demo by Argosies and Andovers earlier. 

When was that Kit? I was in the UK in 2002 and went to the Duxford September air show and saw a Swordfish flying, got some nice pics of it but it was before my digital camera days, used an OM10 back then.

[PR19_Kit]

It must have been in the early 70s some time Robert. I'd just started at BR and came back down for the occasion as I used to live there.

[NARSES2]

I know I've said this before but dad said that during his time aboard an escort carrier one TAG on a Swordfish related the story of how in a headwind they'd been overtaken by a seagull and that on a couple of occasions when a Stringbag was trying to land in a stiff breeze most of the deck/gun crews were required to run out and help pull it down  There are also stories where Stringbag pilots have sworn that in some conditions they were going backwards !

[rickshaw]

I know I've said this before but dad said that during his time aboard an escort carrier one TAG on a Swordfish related the story of how in a headwind they'd been overtaken by a seagull and that on a couple of occasions when a Stringbag was trying to land in a stiff breeze most of the deck/gun crews were required to run out and help pull it down  There are also stories where Stringbag pilots have sworn that in some conditions they were going backwards !

While many disparage the Swordfish as "old fashioned" what has to be remembered is that it was operational for the length of the war, from start to finish.   Eric Browne had in one of his books a small table which compared the tonnage of ships sunk between the Swordfish and other aircraft and the Swordfish came well out on top.   He also recounted how he was tasked to test it's manoeuvrability against fighters (as if no other pilot had discovered that!) and he took on Spitfires and easily beat them apparently.  When lightly loaded, the Swordfish was apparently quite a performer, as Kit's tale recounts.  I think a Hercules engined version would have done quite well, if they'd ever bothered with it, instead of wasting their time on the Albacore.

Speaking of which, I wonder why there never has been a 1/72 injected moulded model of that much neglected aircraft?  The Albacore was quite a good looker, if a desultory performer.

[NARSES2]

While many disparage the Swordfish as "old fashioned" what has to be remembered is that it was operational for the length of the war, from start to finish.   Eric Browne had in one of his books a small table which compared the tonnage of ships sunk between the Swordfish and other aircraft and the Swordfish came well out on top.   

Absolutely, believe you me I'm a fan of the old girl (love the way the AG on the FAA display aircraft flies the White Ensign and stands to attention in the fly past  ) and my dad's stories were always told with a sense of respect for the crews and affection for the old girl herself.

[zenrat]

Sounds like a triplane Swordfish would take off if someone sighed heavily in it's general direction.
Would you add the third wing above or below?
I'd favour putting it underneath with the wheels (or floats) mounted directly to it.  Sort of like the Heyford's lower wing.

[NARSES2]

One mounted underneath as per the Heyford as you say, or the Bristol Fighter, a mid fuselage one and then the upper one ?

[Rheged]

In admiral Cunningham's autobiography, he mentions reading a decrypt of an Afrika Corps signal in which they report that the British are using hovering helicopters as precision bombers.  His response is "That would be a Swordfish flying into a stiff breeze"

[PR19_Kit]

Absolutely, believe you me I'm a fan of the old girl (love the way the AG on the FAA display aircraft flies the White Ensign and stands to attention in the fly past  ) and my dad's stories were always told with a sense of respect for the crews and affection for the old girl herself.

One of my Field Service Engineers (who's name was Ted Heath, and he was neither an ex-Prime Minister, a band leader or a sailor.....) WAS that guy holding up the White Ensign during the time he was Chief Air Artificer on the FAA Historical Flight!

Ted said it was a horrendous job as the Ensign was so large that it almost hauled him out of the cockpit, belts notwithstanding, and some time after his tenure of the post they fitted a tube at the aft end of the cockpit into which the Ensign fitted, thus off loading the AG.

His comment on learning of this was 'It's all gone to the dogs since the old days!' 

[rickshaw]

His comment on learning of this was 'It's all gone to the dogs since the old days!' 

Never a truer word said.  These young whipper snippers... 

[dogsbody]

Speaking of which, I wonder why there never has been a 1/72 injected moulded model of that much neglected aircraft?  The Albacore was quite a good looker, if a desultory performer.

I have this short-run Pegasus kit from the late 80's, if I remember it right.




Chris

[zenrat]

And if the Albacore had been a success then all the old hands would have said "cockpit? you lot have it easy..."