Camouflage & Markings – Fairey Flycatcher
Entering service in1923, the Flycatcher was one of the earliest aircraft specifically designed and built for operation from aircraft carriers. Fitted with floats, it could also be operated from catapults on battleships and cruisers.
The Fleet Air Arm was originally formed as a part of the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1923, and it was for the new branch of the service that the Flycatcher was produced.
They were all painted silver overall. The coloured bands on Naval aircraft fuselages denoted the carrier they were attached to as follows:- Argus, green; Courageous, blue; Eagle, black; Furious, red; and Hermes, white. The code numbers on the fuselages indicated the unit (flight or squadron) and individual aircraft ident. It was a somewhat complicated system. The numbers were usually repeated on the top wings.
The Flycatcher remained in service until 1934 when it was replaced by the Hawker Nimrod.
Always interesting to see the variations, Rick...thanks.
Thanks Craig. Although I don't think anyone would call the Flycatcher a good looking aircraft, it was purposeful and effective, and it was an important step in naval aviation.
Rick:
Well put, purposeful and effective.
Put the old Inpact/Pyro/Lifelike/Lindberg kit next to an F35 and see how far NavAir has come.
Two Vickers .303 on the side of the fuselage (looks like an afterthought) and all the stuff the latest can bring to the target.
Astonishing, isn't it?
Thanks for showing us the more (to us colonials) unknown airframes from the 20s and 30s.
Wish we could get an injection 1/48 Snipe, Grebe, or Gamecock, to round out the fighter progression.
Or (chuckle) a Blackburn Blackburn. Whatta beauty! Gotta have it!
Thanks Bernard. I agree with every word.
When I worked for the RAF Museum I quite often participated in interviewing people for jobs and your comment about the Blackburn reminds me of one memorable occasion. One young lady when asked which was her favourite aircraft said the Blackburn Blackburn. Naturally I asked her why and the reply was "Because it's so ugly" which reduced us all to gales of laughter!
Very colourfulFlycatchers. The one in green squadron colours is my favourite.
Thanks Morne. I agree with your choice of the green markings. A pity that the oldest carrier, Argus, with the green colour didn't see active service in most of the inter-war years.
Another "cool" aircraft with striking markings. Well done profiles.
Refreshing compared with all the camos on military planes, very nice
Thanks Bernd. The aircraft I like as well as the silver ones are the NATO fighters in camouflage in the 1950's - 70's but with the full colour markings on them. I have some profiles that I'll post eventually.
Hi Rick, i have seen some of your profiles on the "Thunder and Lightning" site ?
Thats my favorite for RAF cold war jets. My aircraft modelling in 2015 will see some british types.
Looking forward to your next profiles 🙂
Yes, Bernd, I did quite a lot of profiles for "Thunder & Lightnings back in the 1990's. They are not all there any more.
So its a good idea to post them here, Rick. Great profiles from classical aircraft