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After the outbreak of the Second World War, Vancouvers served with 4 Squadron, RCAF at Jericho Beach Air Station until withdrawn from service in 1940. After a brief period of service in training duties, they were finally withdrawn.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

Operators

• Canada: Royal Canadian Air Force
  • No. 4 Squadron RCAF

Specifications (IIS)

Data from RCAF.com

General characteristics

• Crew: 9 (2 pilots in Vancouver II)
• Capacity: 7 passengers (in Vancouver II only)

Performance Armament
3x0.303-in (7.7-mm) Lewis machine guns, 1,000-lbs (454-kg) bombs