In the 1930s,
Fleet Aircraft
Fleet Aircraft was a Canadian manufacturer of aircraft from 1928 to 1957.
In 1928, the board of Consolidated Aircraft decided to drop their light trainer aircraft and sold the rights to Brewster Aircraft. Reuben H. Fleet founded Fleet Aircraft i ...
manufactured a series of single-engined, two-seat
training aircraft
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristi ...
, based on US designs. The Fleet Model 7B and Model 7C, known respectively as Fawn I and Fawn II were purchased by the
RCAF
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environme ...
as primary trainers. After years of reliable service, many were available for use in the
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), or Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zea ...
during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
while others remained as station "hacks."
Design and development
As a subsidiary of
Consolidated Aircraft
The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923 in aviation, 1923 by Reuben H. Fleet in Buffalo, New York, the result of the Gallaudet Aircraft Company's liquidation and Fleet's purchase of designs from the Dayton-Wright Company as the ...
set up in 1928, Fleet Aircraft had factories at
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...
, and across the border at
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is directly across the river from Buffalo, New York, and is the site of Old Fort Erie which played a prominent role in the War of 1812.
Fort Erie is one of N ...
. The Canadian company produced a series of single-engined, two-seat training aircraft, based on US designs but including variants adapted specifically to
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
(RCAF) needs.
The Fleet Model 7 began as an American design, the
Model 2, originally designed by Consolidated. Besides two prototypes imported from the US, a total of seven Fleet Model 2 trainers were built in Canada for civilian operators.
Derived from earlier Fleet Model 2, the Model 7 featured an aircraft structure consisting of a fabric-covered, welded-steel fuselage with metal panels forward of the wooden cockpits. It had steel-tube faring formers and wooden stringers. The wings were single bay of equal spans and wire braced. The upper wing was made in one piece and constructed with two solid Spruce spars. Ailerons were found only on the bottom wings. Stamped aluminium alloy ribs were used to construct the wings and steel-tube compression struts were at the interplane and centre section of the wings. Interlaced between the wings were streamlined landing and
flying wires
In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of strut, which act in ...
. Except for a broader chord tail-fin introduced after the first production series, while retaining the original rudder of the Model 2, the Model 7 was superficially identical to its earlier predecessor.
A variety of equipment could be fitted to the Canadian variant including optional wheel brakes, a tail skid or tail wheel arrangement, a fuselage belly tank and a fixed cockpit enclosure or "coupe top" with hinged sides. During the late 1930s, a sliding cockpit enclosure became standard equipment of all RCAF Fawns. The aircraft could also be configured to use skis, floats or wheels. The main landing gear's radius rods (the members joining the inner ends of the wheel axles to each opposing corner of the fuselage) on the Models 2 and 7 were notable for having the one coming from the left wheel "looped", with an open oval piece near its middle, so the one from the right mainwheel could pass right through it.
Engine choices further dictated the different variants of the Fawn design: the Mk I (Fleet Model 7B) with a Kinner B-5 engine was superseded by the Mk II (Fleet Model 7C) powered by a Armstrong Siddeley Civet seven-cylinder radial engine. Although the RCAF ordered the bulk of the production runs, 12 civil-registered Model 7Bs were completed for the Department of National Defence to be issued to flying clubs.
Operational history
The Fleet Model 7 first saw service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1931 when 20 Mk Is were delivered. As a two-seater primary trainer they were felt to have excellent flying characteristics together with a rugged strength which inspired confidence in novice pilots. The RCAF was very impressed with the Fleet Fawn and claimed that the aircraft was one of the factors which improved its flying standards during the 1930s.
A total of 31 Model 7Cs were built between 1931 and 1938 at the Fleet Aircraft of Canada's plant at Fort Erie, Ontario, with the first deliveries made in 1936. Due to the smoother, quieter and more powerful engine, the Model 7C was considered the definitive variant.
Forty three Fleet Model 7B and C trainers were operational with the Royal Canadian Air Force when war was declared in 1939. In service during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the RCAF adopted the name "Fawn" for both variants. Along with the more modern follow-up design, the
Fleet Finch
The Fleet Finch (Fleet Model 16) is a two-seat, tandem training biplane produced by Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario. There were a number of variants mainly based on engine variations. Over several years beginning in 1939, a total of 447 ...
, Fleet Fawns helped train thousands of pilots under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the war. The Fawn remained in service with the RCAF until 1947.
Variants
;Model 7A: One example completed with a
Kinner K-5
The Kinner K-5 was a popular engine for light general and sport aircraft developed by Winfield B. 'Bert' Kinner. With the boom in civilian aviation after Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight the K-5 sold well. The K-5 was a rough running but ...
radial engine
;Fleet Model 7B (Fawn Mk I): 32 examples with a
Kinner B-5
The Kinner B-5 was a popular five cylinder American radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s.
Design and development
The B-5 was a development of the earlier K-5 with slightly greater power and dimensions. The main change ...
engine five-cylinder, radial engine (earliest series also had a five cylinder
Armstrong Siddeley Genet
The Armstrong Siddeley Genet was a five-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft use built in the UK, first run in 1926. It developed 80 hp at 2,200 rpm in its final form and was a popular light aircraft powerplant. Followin ...
radial engine and a "left-hand" prop)
;Fleet Model 7C (Fawn Mk II): 31 examples with a
Armstrong Siddeley Civet seven-cylinder, radial engine
;Model 7G: A "one-off" conversion of a Model B with a
de Havilland Gipsy
The de Havilland Gipsy is a British air-cooled four-cylinder in-line aircraft engine designed by Frank Halford in 1927 to replace the ADC Cirrus in the de Havilland DH.60 Moth light biplane. Initially developed as an upright 5 litre (300 ...
III, four-cylinder, inline engine (converted back to Model 7B standard)
;CATA (Fleet) 150: A conversion of Fleet 7 biplanes in Argentina, powered by
Lycoming O-320
The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. They are commonly used on light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee. Different variants ...
engines.
Operators
;
*
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
Survivors
A number of airframes are still in existence including a Fleet Fawn Mk II ''CF-CHF'' (c/n 58 RCAF 220) on display at the
Reynolds-Alberta Museum
The Reynolds-Alberta Museum is an agricultural, industrial, and transportation museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. The museum is situated on an property containing the main museum building, an aviation display hangar, and its storage facility. ...
in
Wetaskiwin
Wetaskiwin ( ) is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. The city is located south of the provincial capital of Edmonton. The city name comes from the Cree word ''wītaskiwinihk'', meaning "the hills where peace was made".
Wetaskiwin is ...
,
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
.
![Fleet Fawn -220](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Fleet_Fawn_-220.jpg)
Fleet 7 Fawn MK1 on display at Yanks air museum Chino CA, Chino Airport
Specifications (Fleet Fawn Mk II)
Information based on ''Fleet: The Flying Years''
[Page and Cumming 1990, pp. 28, 30.]
*Manufacturer: Fleet Aircraft of Canada
*Crew/Passengers: two pilots in tandem
*Powerplant: one
Kinner B-5
The Kinner B-5 was a popular five cylinder American radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s.
Design and development
The B-5 was a development of the earlier K-5 with slightly greater power and dimensions. The main change ...
five-cylinder radial piston engine
*Dimensions
** Length: 21 ft 8 in (6.5 m)
** Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m)
** Span: 28 ft 0 in (8.5 m)
** Wing area: 194 sq ft (18.06 sq m)
*Weights
** Empty: 1,130 lb (513 kg)
** Gross: 1,860 lb (844 kg)
*Performance
** Maximum speed: 112 mph (180 km/h)
** Cruising speed: 87 mph (140 km/h)
** Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,724 m)
**Range: 320 mi (515 km)
*Armament: None
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
* Page, Ron D. and William Cumming. ''Fleet: The Flying Years''. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press, 1990. .
{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada
Fawn
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer ...
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Biplanes
1930s Canadian military trainer aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1930