Canadian Vickers Vancouver

Vancouver
Role	Transport/Patrol flying-boat
Manufacturer	Canadian Vickers
First flight	1929
Retired	1940
Status	out of service
Primary user	RCAF
Produced	6

The Canadian Vickers Vancouver was a Canadian transport/patrol flying-boat of the 1930s built by Canadian Vickers.

It was a twin-engine, equal-span biplane. The hull was of metal and the rest of the structure was of fabric-covered wood.

Development

The Vancouver was developed as a replacement for the Varuna in response to a Royal Canadian Air Force requirement for a flying-boat to transport men and equipment to forest fires. The main difference from the Varuna was a duralumin hull and more powerful engines. The two flight crew were located in two tandem open cockpits, forward of the wing. The main cabin could accommodate a fire-fighting team of six men and all the required equipment. Five aircraft were delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force, one was later converted into a coastal patrol aircraft.

Operational history

In the mid-1930s, the Vancouvers were modified as coastal patrol aircraft by the installation of machine guns and bombs.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, Vancouvers served with 4 Squadron, RCAF at Jericho Beach Air Station until withdrawn from service in 1940. After a brief period of service in training duties, they were finally withdrawn.

Variants

• Vancouver I - prototype with Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV engines, one built.
• Vancouver II - production transport version with Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC engines, five built.
• Vancouver II/SW - armed coastal patrol reconnaissance aircraft with Wright Whirlwind J-6 engines, one conversion from Vancouver II.

Operator

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

• • No. 4 Squadron RCAF

Specifications (Vancouver IIS)

Data from RCAF.com

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (9 in military Vancouvers)
• Capacity: 7 pax
• Length: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
• Wingspan: 55 ft 0 in (16.76 m)
• Height: 15 ft 7 in (4.75 m)
• Wing area: 818.9 sq ft (76.08 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,966 lb (2,706 kg)
• Gross weight: 10,009 lb (4,540 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Armstrong-Siddeley Serval IV 10-cyl. double-row, air-cooled radial piston engine, 310 hp (230 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 82 kn (94 mph, 151 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 75 kn (86 mph, 138 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 ft (1,463 m)

Armament

• Guns: 3 x 0.303-in (7.7-mm) Lewis Guns (military Vancouvers only)
• Bombs: 1,000lb (450 kg) of bombs (military Vancouvers only)

See also

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of seaplanes and flying boats
• List of Interwar military aircraft