The Firefly IIM was a British single-seat, single-engine biplane fighter developed in the late 1920s by Fairey Aviation.
It was designed by Marcel Lobelle as a private venture after the original Firefly I (with a Curtiss D-12 engine and wooden structure) was rejected by the RAF.
The Firefly IIM was a completely new design with all-metal construction, created to meet Air Ministry Specification F.20/27 for a single-seat interceptor.
First flight
5 February 1929.
It competed against the Hawker Fury for RAF adoption.
Although faster, it was criticised for heavy controls and retained some wooden elements, leading to the Fury’s selection.
The prototype was rebuilt with full metal construction, hence the “M” in Firefly IIM.
Variants and Trials
A naval version, the Firefly III, was built to Specification N21/26 for carrier operations, first flying on 17 May 1929.
It was also rebuilt as the Firefly IIIM with more metal components but lost out to the Hawker Nimrod.
The IIIM was later fitted with floats and used by the RAF High Speed Flight for Schneider Trophy training.
Operational History
Belgium ordered 25 Firefly IIMs, followed by 62 more built by Avions Fairey, the company’s Belgian subsidiary.
These aircraft served with the Belgian Aviation Militaire throughout the 1930s and briefly during the German invasion in May–June 1940.
Two Belgian aircraft were converted to Firefly IVs with Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs engines, but performance gains were insufficient to justify further development.
One aircraft was sent to the Soviet Union for evaluation.
Production Summary
Total built
91 aircraft.
Primary users
Belgian Air Force, Soviet Union (evaluation only).
Not adopted by the RAF or Fleet Air Arm for frontline service.
