Fairey 1915-60

Fairey Aviation Company was a successful aircraft company from 1915 to 1960, known for its ability to diversify and innovate. It produced the Swordfish, which became its greatest success story, and later ventured into rotary wing aircraft, which led to its downfall. The legacy of the company's final aircraft, the Rotodyne, lives on today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2023
Publisher: Key Publishing Ltd

One of the many ingredients required for creating a great aircraft company is the ability to diversify, and this was just one of the strengths that would keep the Fairey Aviation Company in business from 1915 through to 1960. Like so many other aircraft manufacturers of the day, it found its feet by taking on sub-contract work, and, while this was being carried out, it began to build on its own aircraft portfolio. Fairey did not just sit back and produce aircraft in line with specifications; they designed new features that would be incorporated in all aircraft in the future. The company's greatest and most surprising success story came about when the ubiquitous Swordfish, affectionately known as the "Stringbag," entered production in 1936. The company's venture into rotary-wing aircraft would eventually become its undoing, despite huge technical achievements being achieved in a very short space of time. Soaked up by Westlands in 1960, the legacy of the company's final aircraft, the Rotodyne, still lives on today, and only now, in the 21st Century, is the world ready for such a fantastic machine. This book explores the fascinating history of the company and the aircraft it produced.

The Fairey Aviation Company was a key player in the aviation industry from 1915 to 1960, thanks to its ability to diversify and innovate. The company started by taking on sub-contract work, which helped it establish itself and build its own aircraft portfolio. Unlike many other aircraft manufacturers of the time, Fairey did not simply produce aircraft in line with specifications; instead, it designed new features that would be incorporated in all aircraft in the future. One of the company's most significant achievements was the development of the Swordfish, also known as the "Stringbag," in 1936. The Swordfish was a successful and versatile aircraft that played a crucial role in World War II. However, the company's venture into rotary-wing aircraft would ultimately be its downfall. Despite achieving significant technical achievements in a short period, Fairey struggled to compete with the likes of Westland and de Havilland, which had a stronger focus on rotary-wing aircraft. In 1960, Fairey was acquired by Westlands, which continued to produce the Rotodyne aircraft for several more years. The Rotodyne was a remarkable aircraft that featured a unique rotary-wing design and was capable of incredible speeds and altitudes. However, it was also expensive to produce and had limited commercial success. Today, the legacy of the Fairey Aviation Company and its aircraft continues to be celebrated. The Swordfish is considered a classic example of British aircraft design, and the Rotodyne is still regarded as a groundbreaking piece of engineering. The company's contributions to the aviation industry have helped shape the world we live in today, and its legacy will continue to inspire future generations of engineers and designers.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 243 x 171 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802823776