Whose Fox

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Member for

12 years

Posts: 1,141

Another headache??, I came across these shots of a Fairey Fox, that look as though they were taken in Asia.
I thought maybe at first from Parer & Hemsworth in the 34 MacRobertson air race.
But checking I found they flew a Mk I G-ACXO, and this is a later version.???
Any ideas??
Thanks in advance Duggy.

Original post

Member for

14 years

Posts: 1,788

Re: "Whose Fox", G-INFO record for it has the aircraft sold by Fairey 13 August 1932. but no owner detail other than being described as a Fox II, 2-seater Biplane with c/n F.1842.

Member for

11 years 3 months

Posts: 1,300

The A Fleeting Peace website http://www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php lists this aircraft as sold to the Chinese Air Force in 1933. Flight Archive has this from 1934 showing the Fox demonstration for the Kwangsi Air Force - https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1934/1934%20-%200763.html?search=kwangsi

Lovely photos which really show the size of the Fox.

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14 years

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To correct: the registration form for 'BYY shows it as a Fox II: the CAA has transcribed it to 'III'. I may post an image if there's still confusion.

Member for

15 years

Posts: 1,712

Yes Sabrejet is correct, have a look at pre 1986 registration on GINFO and it does indeed say Fox II. The up to date one has it down as a Fox III so I can see where the confusion lies.
Beautiful looking aircraft, on a par with the Hawker biplanes in my opinion.

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15 years 9 months

Posts: 159

Taylor’s Fairey Aircraft since 1915 has this as built as a Fox III and first flown on 22 June, 1933. Later modified as a reconnaissance fighter with 2 forward-firing guns and a slatted undercarriage, it was then “...shipped out as a Fox IV to the Far East Aviation Co of Hong Kong and Shanghai. Among other journeys it was flown to Liuchow, Kwangsi Province, where it was demonstrated to the Kwangsi Air Force and flown by Chinese pilots. Later, G-ABYY took part in a display on 24 July, 1934, at Hungjao aerodrome, Shanghai, during which it was flown by Flt Lt AD Bennett, the Shanghai manager of Far East Aviation...”

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14 years

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Looks like most of the modern data for 'BYY is based on the incorrect CAA transcription then: that's a lesson for us all and also demonstrates how one can trace a plagiarised source!

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14 years

Posts: 1,788

And as ever, a good reason to buy those Putnam titles.

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11 years 2 months

Posts: 580

Do any foxes, or major components survive anywhere?
Nice looking biplane.

Member for

12 years

Posts: 1,141

First want to say thanks for all the input.
It would be nice if anything did survive, maybe someone at 12 Sq knows?
And if not I should think Belgium would be the best bet.
Most however started off like this.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/Duggy009/Fairey%20Fox/Fairey%20Fox%20Mk%20VI.jpg
But became "CANNON FODDER" during the German invasion.(Although one is credited with a 109 kill?)
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/Duggy009/Fairey%20Fox/Fairey%20Fox%20Belgium.jpg
On another note this new forum update is almost as bad as my ex-wife!!!

Member for

17 years 8 months

Posts: 2,766

The original Fox as used by 12 Sqn had nothing in common with the later Foxes, Just the re-use of a name. A number of later Foxes were used by Peru and if anything survives it might just be there.

John