Fairey Fulmar Ideas and inspiration

[GTX_Admin]

A thread for your Fairey Fulmar Ideas and inspiration.

[GTX_Admin]

10 Reasons the Fairey Fulmar was the F-14 Tomcat of World War II

[upnorth]

Given that the Fulmar's major problem was being underpowered, maybe popping a Griffon onto it would be helpful.

Also, by most accounts the Fulmar was pleasant to fly and had good range. Maybe a post-war turboprop conversion could have potential.

To my eyes, the Fulmar looks like it was born to be fitted with floats. Maybe an up-engined rescue version could come from that idea.

[apophenia]

Given that the Fulmar's major problem was being underpowered, maybe popping a Griffon onto it would be helpful...

That makes sense. After all, in theory at least, the FAA had priority on Griffon supplies. So, I had a go ...

It makes for an awkward-looking beast (although that is hardly unusual for naval aircraft). It would be quite a bit longer and a smidge taller than the baseline Fulmar. Probably someone on BtS has dimensions for early WW2 RN carrier hangar decks (but I don't).

Another option which could retain the Merlin would be for the Admiralty to forego its 2-seater with observer fixation and develop the Fulmar as a single-seater. If nothing else, it would make a better shipboard fighter than the Sea Hurricane.

[Old Wombat]

Given that the Fulmar's major problem was being underpowered, maybe popping a Griffon onto it would be helpful...

That makes sense. After all, in theory at least, the FAA had priority on Griffon supplies. So, I had a go ...

It makes for an awkward-looking beast (although that is hardly unusual for naval aircraft). It would be quite a bit longer and a smidge taller than the baseline Fulmar. Probably someone on BtS has dimensions for early WW2 RN carrier hangar decks (but I don't).

Stephen, I was wondering if using the nose from the 1st Griffon-powered Spitfire (the Mk. XII) would make a difference in the look of the Fulmar "Mk.III"?

[GTX_Admin]

Or follow the similar sized Fairey Firefly or Barracuda with adding a Griffon and adopt a similar look?

[Old Wombat]

Or follow the similar sized Fairey Firefly or Barracuda with adding a Griffon and adopt a similar look?

Well, Greg, I was thinking that Fairey would build the Griffon-powered Fulmar as a stop-gap until they had fully developed the Firefly, which was a much better aircraft, using knowledge gained from fitting the Griffon to the Spitfire.

[GTX_Admin]

I am not disagreeing with the idea of a Griffon powered Fulmar stopgap.  I am just saying that if you are looking at how it might look, there are other Fairy designs to adopt the engine from so as to get the "Fairey" look.

[Old Wombat]

Either way, I have a Spitfire Mk.XII & I've just ordered a Fulmar Mk.II! 

[apophenia]

Either way, I have a Spitfire Mk.XII & I've just ordered a Fulmar Mk.II! 

Excellent! This should be fun to watch 

When I initially approached the Griffon-powered Fulmar in pixels, my first thought was plonk on the nose from a Firefly F.Mk.IV. (I chose that nose instead of the beard-radiatored models so that the rad could be shifted aft for balance.)

But, it turns out that the Firefly has a much deeper fuselage than the Fulmar. I was also looking for a quickie approach ... perhaps, with more time and effort, the Firefly nose could have been fiddled to provide a more Fairey appearance?