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FS5/FSFS  Fairey Swordfish Mk I torpedo/reconnaisance bomber
Requires FS 5.x and BAO Flight Shop

Artwork and original FSFS model by Steve Lovass-Nagy
November 1996

e-mail:   slovass@ix.netcom.com
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 Files and installation:
 ======================== 
  	swordfsh.txt        Documentation (this file)		

  	swordfsh.air        Aircraft file

  	swordfsh.0af thru   
  	swordfsh.9af        Texture files

 Copy *.AIR file to your \FLTSIM5\PILOTS subdirectory.
 Copy *.#AF ( .0af thru .9af) files to your \FLTSIM5\TEXTURE subdirectory.


About the Fairey Swordfish:
===========================
The Fairey Swordfish started life as a small private venture bi-plane
identified as the TSR.I (Torpedo/Spotter/Reconnaisance).  The original
prototype was lost in an accident, and was followed by a larger TSR.II,
which became the Swordfish prototype.  It first flew on April 17, 1934, 
and entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1936.

Although archaic in appearance, the Swordfish (affectionately known as
the 'Stringbag') fought with great distinction throughout World War II, 
and actually outlasted its designated replacement, the Fairey Albacore, 
as a front-line combat aircraft!  A few highlights of its career are 
worth mentioning.

On April 11, 1940, Swordfish aircraft from HMS Furious made the first
coordinated torpedo attack from a carrier in the history of naval 
aviation.  On the night on November 11, 1940, Swordfish from the carriers
HMS Eagle and Illustrious attacked the Italian fleet in Taranto harbor, 
severely damaging three battleships, a cruiser, and two destroyers, and
sinking two auxiliary vessels.  Later, Swordfish aircraft from HMS Victorious 
took part in the sinking of the Bismarck, crippling the ship's rudder and 
allowing the pursuing British fleet to catch up with and destroy the German 
raider.  The Swordfish had its failures too -- notably the loss of all of 
the six Swordfish which attempted to prevent the escape of the German 
battleships Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst through the English 
Channel on February 12, 1942.  The commander of that ill-fated flight, 
Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross -- 
the first ever to be awarded to a member of the Fleet Air Arm.

Wing Span:.................45' 6"
Length:....................36' 4"
Height:....................12' 4"
Empty Weight:..............4,195 lb.
Gross Weight:..............7,720 lb.
Maximum Speed:.............154 mph
Range:.....................1,030 miles
Service Ceiling:...........19,250 ft.
Engine:....................one 690 hp Bristol Pegasus III M3

Armament: One fixed, synchronised Vickers machine gun firing through the
propeller arc; one Vickers or Lewis machine gun mounted in the rear 
cockpit; and an 18 in. torpedo or one 1,500 lb. mine carried beneath the 
fuselage.  In addition, 650 lb. of bombs could be carried under the fuselage 
and wings, and the Mk II was could also be fitted with eight 60 lb. 
underwing rockets.

Note about the flight model:
============================
After a certain amount of tinkering, I think I've come up with a flight 
model that approximates the Swordfish's actual performance quite closely.  
Any suggestions for improvement will, of course, be appreciated.  Carrier 
landings are possible, even though the Swordfish is apt to over-run
the deck -- you must practically stall the aircraft onto the deck and hit
the brakes immediately (with the accompanying risk of a ground loop) to be 
able to stop in time.  The real aircraft was fitted with an arrester hook 
which, in this model, can be extended using the speedbrake key (/), but 
until someone comes up with a carrier with working arrester cables this 
is for show only.

References
=========================
Concise Color Guides, Aircraft, World Wars I & II, Longmeadow Press
Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation, Crescent Books

Legal stuff:
=========================
This model is the property of the author and may not be re-sold or
packaged with any product for sale without express written permission 
from the author.  It may be distributed freely on any server that has
a free distribution policy.  No warranty of any kind is offered or 
implied -- you use this model at your own risk.

=========================
Flight Simulator is a registered trademark of Bruce Artwick.
Flight Simulator Flight Shop is a trademark of BAO Publishing.

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