Externally, design of the Firebrand showcased some similarities to the Hawker Tempest with its slim and streamlined fuselage and large propeller spinner. The cockpit was situated at the middle of the fuselage and featured a two-piece bubble-style canopy affording the pilot with relatively excellent all-around vision. Wings were low-mounted monoplane systems with dihedral and positioned fairly forward along the fuselage sides. The empennage was dominated by a large vertical tail fin with horizontal planes positioned well behind the vertical tail unit. The undercarriage was of a conventional "tail-dragger" arrangement featuring two main landing gears and a single tail wheel. All three systems were fully retractable.
As with most of the British fighters of the time, cannon armament was the standard firepower for the Firebrand. This consisted of 4 x 20mm Hispano Mk II series cannons mounted in pairs on each wing. For a more direct increase to its lethality, the Firebrand could sport a single 1,850lb 18" Mark XVII series torpedo running centerline under the fuselage or 2 x 1,000lb bombs under the wings - one to a wing pylon.
The definitive TF.Mk IV Firebrand sported the Bristol Centaurus IX series, 18-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine with a listed output of 2,500 horsepower powering a four-bladed propeller system. Performance specifications included a top speed of 350 miles per hour with a listed cruise speed of 289 miles per hour. Range was equivalent to 1,250 miles when fitted with drop tanks. A rate-of-climb of 2,600 feet-per-minute was possible with a service ceiling of approximately 28,500 feet.
The TF.Mk 5 followed the TF.Mk IV into service with subtle aerodynamic related revisions. Production only lasted through 68 examples. The improved TF.Mk 5A finished up the Firebrand line to which total production amounted to 193 examples, lasting from 1943 through 1947.
The Firebrand served solely with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN) Fleet Air Arm (FAA). The FAA squadrons utilizing the type were the 700, 703, 708, 736, 738, 759, 764, 767, 778, 787, 799, 813 and the 827 Naval Air Squadrons. The Blackburn Firebrand was officially operated by the British Royal Navy from 1943 through 1953 before facing retirement from operational status.
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