Vickers Varsity

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Vickers Varsity
Vickers Varsity
Type: Twin-engine training aircraft
Design country:

United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom

Manufacturer:

Vickers-Armstrong

First flight:

July 17, 1949

Commissioning:

1952

Number of pieces:

160

The Vickers Varsity T. Mk 1 was a twin-engine trainer aircraft that was powered by two piston engines. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for 25 years from 1951 and did not have a pressurized cabin .

development and construction

The Varsity was developed by Vickers based on the Vickers Viking and Valetta aircraft to meet the T.13 / 48 specification for a twin-engine trainer aircraft, which should replace the Wellington T.10 and the Valetta T3 and T4. The main differences are the larger wingspan, the fuselage and the nose wheel landing gear. In addition, the Varsity had a belly pan for the training of future bombers.

The prototype Type 668 flew for the first time on July 17, 1949.

A civil version was planned with the designation VC.3, but was not pursued further due to the success of the VC.2 Viscount.

Operational history

The Swedish Vickers Varsity, exhibited in the Flygvapenmuseum

The Varsity was introduced by the RAF to replace the Wellington T.10 trainer. In 1951 the first series production models were delivered and retired in 1976; Scottish Aviation Jetstream T1 took over her role as pilot and navigation trainer .

The Swedish Air Force operated a Varsity from January 1953 to 1973 and used it mainly for electronic reconnaissance . In Sweden the Varsity was called Tp 82.

The last flying varsity (Serial WL679) was operated by the Royal Aircraft Establishment until 1992.

user

JordanJordan Jordan
SwedenSweden Sweden
United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom

Incidents

From 1952 to 1984, 31 varsity were destroyed, 28 of them in accidents. 14 of these had a total of 51 fatalities, including four people on the ground. Example:

  • On January 23, 1958, a Royal Air Force Vickers Varsity T.1 ( WL633 ) came off the runway while landing at Manston Airport , collided with snowdrifts and exploded. Three of the five crew members were killed.

Technical data (TMk. 1)

Parameter Data
crew 4th
length 20.57 m
span 29.13 m
height 7.29 m
Wing area 90.50 m²
Empty mass 12,265 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 17,010 kg
Top speed 464 km / h
Service ceiling 8750 m
Climb performance 426.72 m / min
Range 4263 km
Engines 2 Bristol Hercules 264 14 cylinder radial engines
power 1455 kW (1950 WPS)

See also

Web links

Commons : Vickers Varsity  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Accident statistics Vickers Varsity, Aviation Safety Network (English) , accessed on January 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Accident report WL633, Aviation Safety Network (English) , accessed on January 27, 2016.
  3. Andrews, CF and EB Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1