Fairey Ferret

The Fairey Ferret was a general-purpose biplane designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company and the company's first all-metal design. It was drawn up to Fleet Air Arm reconnaissance specification 37/22 and then offered to the Royal Air Force as a general-purpose type when the navy lost interest. Three prototypes were built: two three-seaters, one with a 400 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV radial and one with a 425 hp Bristol Jupiter, and a two-seat Ferret III with a Fairey-designed high-speed gun mounting. The first flew in June 1925. It did well in trials at Martlesham Heath but was not ordered into production.