Tags
In 1926 a proposal was made that the RAF should attempt a non-stop flight to India. This would not only be operationally significant, but enormously prestigious to the service if successful. It would at the same time establish a new world long-distance record. The chosen vehicle for this attempt was the Hawker Horsley, then entering RAF service as a day and torpedo-bomber.
A production example was modified with strengthened landing gear to carry the additional weight of an extra 3,955 litres of fuel accommodated in new wing and fuselage tanks. On 20 May 1927 Flt Lieut C. R. Carr (later Air Marshal Sir Roderick) and Flt Lieut L. E. M. Gillman took off for India, only to be forced down in the Persian Gulf after completing 5,504km: a new long-distance record that was beaten in less than 24 hours when Charles Lindbergh landed at Paris after his 5,778km solo flight across the North Atlantic. Two later but unsuccessful attempts were made with the Horsley.
Consequently the Air Ministry decided to obtain a purpose-built long-range aircraft to make a new attack on the record: the Fairey Long-Range Monoplane was the result. A clean, high-wing cantilever monoplane of low wing loading, it was of composite construction and fabric-covered. The high-efficiency wing, which incorporated a triangulated-tube internal bracing system devised by Hollis Williams, also contained tanks for more than 4,546 litres of fuel. In this aircraft (J9479) Sqd Ldr A. G.Jones-Williams and Flt Lieut N. H. Jenkins flew from Cranwell, Lincolnshire to Karachi, recording the first non-stop flight between Britain and India, but failing to beat the world long-distance record. This aircraft was lost in a second long-range attempt, resulting in the construction of a new aircraft which differed only in detail and by the addition of an autopilot.
In this, during the period 6-8 February 1933, Sqd Ldr Gayford (with Flt Lieut G. E. Nicholetts as navigator) flew non-stop from Cranwell to Walvis Bay, South West Africa, creating a world long-distance record of 8,544km. Such was the speed of progress that only six months later this record was captured by France.
***
First attempt December 1929 to Cape town from Cranwell ended when it crashed in to high ground near Tunis, Killing both pilots :( , Second aircraft, Had better instrumentation and an automatic pilot developed by RAE Farnborough, Handed over to RAF July 1931, Did a proving flight to Egypt, Slight damaged from forced landing, Repaired and left Cranwell on 6th Feb 1933 and flew 5,410 miles(8707km) to Walvis Bay, South west Africa in 57 hours 25mins, Latter broken by Codos and Rossi in a Bleriot-Zappata 110, Flew a great circle route of 5,657miles(9104km) between New York and Syria, Thoughts of re-engining the Monoplane in 34 with a Jumo diesel, estimated range 8,300miles (13358km) came to nothing, The final fate of the plane does not seem to be recorded.
Specifications (Fairey Long-range Monoplane II)
Data from Fairey Aircraft since 1915[1]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 48 ft 6 in (14.8 m)
Wingspan: 82 ft (25.0 m)
Height: 12 ft (3.6 m)
Wing area: 850 ft² (79 m²)
Loaded weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
Powerplant: 1 (fixed-pitch propeller)× Napier Lion XIa twelve-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 570 hp (425 kW) each
*Mean chord: 11 ft (3.3 m)
Performance
Cruise speed: 96 knots (110 mph [5], 177 km/h)
Wing loading: 20.7 lb/ft² (101.1kg/m²)
Power/mass: 29.2 hp/lb ()
Take-off distance: 4,500 ft (1.370 m)
[1] Taylor, Hugh A. Fairey Aircraft Since 1915. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 2004. ISBN 0-85177-825-9.
