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?

[Jonesthetank]

Hi,

Using a very rough and ready blueprint I smashed the Firefly noses onto the Fulmar.


I'm sure from an engineering and aerodynamics stand point it would be a lot more complicated, but they both sort of go.

Mark

[apophenia]

Hi,

Using a very rough and ready blueprint I smashed the Firefly noses onto the Fulmar.


I'm sure from an engineering and aerodynamics stand point it would be a lot more complicated, but they both sort of go.

Mark

Those look good, Mark 

As you say, from an engineering POV, there'd be challenges. On the engine installations, the big issue would be pushing the supercharger so far back that it is interfering with the rudder pedals. Then again, extend the nose and you create both balance issues and exaggerate the need for more tail area.

[Volkodav]

Nice!

The first thing that came to my mind was a proper Scout Bomber version with dive breaks.  Once the FAA had more agile fighters on the way they repurposed the Fulmar as a proper scout dive bomber based on lessons from the Skuas success in the mission and the demonstrated effectiveness of the Stukas in the Med.

Thus, the RN FAA had an effective dive bomber that was still a useful night fighter and heavy fighter/scout, for use against the Japanese.  Imagine a radar equipped version used to find the Japanese forces in the Indian Ocean in 1942 and coordinate night strikes against them?

[GTX_Admin]

Another option might be re-engining with something like a Bristol Hercules:



Apologies for quick, crude sketch.  No proper scaling done with this.

[GTX_Admin]

Another option might be to lose the observer - this is one I found online:



I quite like the observer though.

[apophenia]

Variations on the Griffon-Fulmar theme ...

Top: Single-seat Griffon-Fulmar (based on the Merlin-engined single-seater, above).

Bottom: I always liked the concept of the Bell Airabonita (mainly for its pilot's visibility advantages when landing-on). So, perhaps based on engineering exposure to the RAF's Caribou/Airacobra, a mid-engined Griffon-Fulmar?