Editing Fireflash (section)

{{For|the vehicle from ''Thunderbirds''|Thunderbirds machines#Fireflash}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox weapon
|is_missile=yes
|is_UK=yes
|image=Fairey Fireflash RAFM.JPG
|caption= A Fireflash missile at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford (2014)
|name=Fireflash
|type=Air-to-air missile
|origin=United Kingdom
|launch_platform=Aircraft
|manufacturer= [[Fairey Aviation]]
|design_date=1949
|production_date=
|service=1957–1958
|used_by= United Kingdom
|wars=None
|diameter=
|wingspan={{convert|28.11|in}}
|length={{convert|111.75|in}}
|weight= {{convert|150|kg}}
|speed=Mach 2
|vehicle_range={{convert|1.9|mi}}
|ceiling=
|filling=
|engine=Two solid fuel rocket motors
|steering=control surfaces
|guidance=beam rider
|variants=
|number=c. 300
|detonation=Proximity fuze
}}

'''Fireflash''' was the United Kingdom's first [[air-to-air missile|air-to-air guided missile]] to see service with the [[Royal Air Force]]. Constructed by [[Fairey Aviation Company|Fairey Aviation]], the missile utilised radar [[beam riding]] guidance. Fireflash had relatively limited performance and required the launching aircraft to approach the target from a limited angle astern.

The approximately 300 production Fireflash missiles were mostly expended as a training weapon to familiarize RAF pilots with missile firing. It was declared operational very briefly in 1957, thus becoming the RAF's first operational air-to-air missile, but was quickly replaced by the [[de Havilland Firestreak]] the next year.