british carrier based single engined torpedo bomber dive bomber ordered world war designed war prototype fly july larger earlier naval bombers designed use aboard large malta class aircraft carriers cancelled war cancelled seven prototypes ordered built actually flew experimental work aircraft scrapped design development designed admiralty specification replacement torpedo dive bomber role comparison powerful engine internal weapons bay retractable surface search radar mounted bomb bay half large designed operated long ton malta class aircraft carriers development august company received order prototypes built specification prototype serial number constructed factory flew july fly november company ordered build dual control dive bombing trainer variant built chapel factory assembled flown june development aircraft ordered built fitted engine engined aircraft built flew production orders aircraft placed built aircraft intended use horsepower radial engine engines 60s remainder addition flaps enlarged lateral control provided small cancellation malta class carriers longer requirement new torpedo bombers programme cancelled work continued prototypes built cancellation contract albeit slowly test pilot naval aviator captain evaluated prototype found controls cruising flight heavy fact lateral control solid barely hand knots mph bad weather pilot carrier waiting land forced fly wide circuit carrier sight bad weather later prototypes boosted hydraulic power artificial feel stick spring interim measure brown found second prototype pleasant aircraft fly stick continually hunted neutral build stick force increase speed lacked sort stall warning problem operational use stall approach speeds fairly close landing aircraft proved prototype later trials firm systems briefly ground training purposes beginning april scrapped shortly second prototype sussex sold scrap september prototype conducted radar trials damaged heavy landing september sold scrap august repair fourth prototype flew source sole built aircraft closest planned production configuration engine cooling power assisted flying control trials struck charge july follow meet seat strike fighter redesigned accommodate twin coupled rolls engine rotating propellers variety engines considered production order placed examples programme eventually shelved remaining paper project description mid wing metal fuselage centre wing section built integral fuselage outer wing panels folded carrier operations distinguishing feature wing large flaps spanned wing trailing edge outward conventional landing gear wings housed pair imperial gal fuel tanks plus imperial gal tank leading edge starboard wing total imperial gallons gal fuel man tandem cockpit operated canopy large internal weapons bay alternatively carry pound bombs depth charges torpedo imperial gal auxiliary fuel tank intended carry inch machine guns remote controlled nash barbette cockpit wings external offensive armament rockets carried underneath outer wing panels operators specifications data general characteristics crew length wingspan height weight gross weight max takeoff weight fuel capacity imperial gallons gal powerplant cylinder radial engine propellers bladed diameter performance maximum speed mph cruise speed mph range nmi combat range nmi service ceiling time altitude minutes feet armament guns machine guns wings nash remote controlled dorsal barbette rockets rocket projectiles rails bombs carried internal weapons bay torpedo bombs depth charges
Fairey Spearfish