From the Fairey Aviation Company, the Flycatcher was the first dedicated British carrier-based fighter, making its first flight in 1922 and entered service in 1923. This sturdy single-seat biplane powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial reached at the time 215 km/h, armed with two Vickers machine guns. It had excellent low-speed manoeuvrability and could take off and land on short flight decks. It served most famously from HMS Argus, Furious, Courageous, Glorious, Hermes and Eagle, retired last from the China Station in 1934.
