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The Museum will be closed March 21 to 24, 2023
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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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Fairey Battle IT

Hours and Location

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
Hours
*CLOSED: March 21 to 24
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
Admission
Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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Fairey Battle IT

Fairey Battle IT

Highlights:

  • A British single-engine light bomber designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company between 1936 and 1940
  • First operational aircraft to enter service with a Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine
  • Used as bomber at the beginning of the Second World War
  • Proved unsuitable for combat duty; converted to trainers for the duration of the war
  • From August 1939, 739 Battles were sent to Canada as bombing and gunnery trainers under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
  • "IT" model has Bristol Type I turret for turret-gunnery training
  • Retired by the RCAF after the Second World War; very few were sold as surplus or remain today
  • First flight was in March 1936

Image Gallery:

CASM-24806

CASM-24806

CASM-24735

CASM-24735

CASM-29324

CASM-29324

History:

The Fairey Battle was a disaster as a light day bomber, being too slow, vulnerable and under-gunned for air warfare in Second World War. Those surviving the early war years were reallocated to training duties. From August 1939, 739 Battles served in Canada as trainers. Most were used for bombing and gunnery training, with a small number equipped as target tugs. Some aircraft had the rear cockpit replaced with a Bristol turret for turret-gunnery training.

After First World War, relatively slow, light bombers were considered militarily feasible until, early in Second World War, Fairey Battles were blown from the sky by fast single-seat fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Their place in the military armoury was filled by fighter aircraft which were fast and could effectively defend themselves after dropping their bomb.

Current Location:

Reserve Hangar, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Transfer from the Royal Canadian Air Force

This Battle was manufactured in 1940 as a pilot trainer by the Fairey Aviation Company Limited, in Stockport, England, and was immediately delivered to Canada. It was taken on strength by the RCAF in January 1941 as a standard Battle I, serving at No. 31 Service Flying School in Kingston, Ontario, until December of that year, when it was stored.

In December 1942, it was converted to a turret-gunnery trainer at St. Jean, Quebec, with a Bristol turret used on the Canadian-made Bolingbroke. It served briefly at No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School in Macdonald, Manitoba, and was stored in April 1943. In 1946, the Battle was designated for public display, and was stored again, beginning in July 1950.

It was eventually refurbished by the RCAF at Calgary in 1963, and transferred to the RCAF historical aircraft collection at Rockcliffe Airport in 1964.

Technical Information:

Wing Span 16.5 m (54 ft)
Length 12.9 m (42 ft 4 in)
Height 4.7 m (15 ft 6 in)
Weight, Empty 3,015 kg (6,647 lb)
Weight, Gross 4,895 kg (10,792 lb)
Cruising Speed 322 km/h (200 mph)
Max Speed 406 km/h (252 mph)
Rate of Climb 1,520 m (5,000 ft) / 4 min 6 sec
Service Ceiling 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
Range 1,609 km (1,000 mi)
Power Plant one Rolls-Royce Merlin III, 1,030 hp, Vee engine

Fairey Battle IT plan

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1967.0660
Manufacturer
Fairey Aviation Company Ltd.
Manufacturer Location
Great Britain
Manufacture Date
1940
Acquisition Date
1964
Registration Number
R7384 (RAF)
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  • View other collection highlights related to Aviation

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About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
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  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy