The Vickers Type 131 Valiant was a British general-purpose biplane produced by Vickers in 1927,[1] with the intention of replacing the Royal Air Force's Airco DH.9As, but was unsuccessful, with only a single example built, which was sold to Chile.
In 1926, based on experience with the wooden-winged Vickers Vixen biplane, where the wings proved vulnerable to extremes of temperature and humidity, designed a set of metal wings for the Vixen, with which it became the Vickers Vivid, and in parallel, designed an all-metal general purpose biplane, the Vickers Type 131, hoping to replace the DH.9A in that role.[2] In 1927, the British Air Ministry issued Specification 26/27 for a DH.9A replacement which, to save money, had to use as many components of the DH.9A as possible because the RAF held large stocks of DH.9A spares. Vickers submitted the Type 131 design to the Ministry but, as it did not make use of the required DH9A components, did not receive a contract for a prototype. However Vickers decided to build a single prototype as a private venture for evaluation against the specification.[3]
The Vickers 131 Valiant was a single-bay biplane of all-metal construction, sharing much of the structure with the Vivid. It was powered by a 492 hp (367 kW) Bristol Jupiter engine, and the crew of two sat in separate but adjacent cockpits, giving good communication between the pilot and observer. It could carry up to 500 lb (230 kg) of bombs under the wing, with a fixed Vickers machine gun for the pilot and a Lewis gun on a Scarff ring for the observer.[4][5]
The prototype had made its first flight by 5 March 1927,[6] and underwent official evaluation against the designs from Bristol (the Beaver), Fairey (the Fairey Ferret and IIIF), Gloster (the Goral) and Westland (the Wapiti). Its initial tests showed it to possess good handling,[7] and was taken forwards for squadron trials, along with the Ferret, IIIF and Wapiti.[8] Following these trials, the Wapiti was chosen as the winner, with the Valiant, which was 30% more expensive than the Wapiti,[9] rejected because it was a poor bombing platform, not being sufficiently stable.[8]
Operational historyedit
The Valiant was shipped to Chile in 1928 for demonstration to the Chilean Air Force that wanted a replacement for their Vixens. While no production followed, Chile purchased the prototype,[1] which entered service with the School of Aviation, being destroyed in a crash on 29 March 1929.[8]
Andrews, C.F.; E.B. Morgan (1988). Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-815-1.
Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-10014-X.
Jarrett, Philip (March 1997). "Limited Editions Part 7: Vickers Valiant biplane". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 25, no. 3. London: IPC. pp. 30–36. ISSN 0143-7240.
Mason, Francis K. (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
October 30, 2023
vickers, valiant, bomber, vickers, valiant, vickers, type, valiant, british, general, purpose, biplane, produced, vickers, 1927, with, intention, replacing, royal, force, airco, unsuccessful, with, only, single, example, built, which, sold, chile, valiant, mar. For the V bomber see Vickers Valiant The Vickers Type 131 Valiant was a British general purpose biplane produced by Vickers in 1927 1 with the intention of replacing the Royal Air Force s Airco DH 9As but was unsuccessful with only a single example built which was sold to Chile ValiantVickers 131 Valiant at Martlesham Heath 1927Role General purpose biplaneNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Vickers LimitedFirst flight 1927Introduction 1928Retired 1929Primary user Chilean Air ForceNumber built 1 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications Type 131 Valiant 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 BibliographyDevelopment and design editIn 1926 based on experience with the wooden winged Vickers Vixen biplane where the wings proved vulnerable to extremes of temperature and humidity designed a set of metal wings for the Vixen with which it became the Vickers Vivid and in parallel designed an all metal general purpose biplane the Vickers Type 131 hoping to replace the DH 9A in that role 2 In 1927 the British Air Ministry issued Specification 26 27 for a DH 9A replacement which to save money had to use as many components of the DH 9A as possible because the RAF held large stocks of DH 9A spares Vickers submitted the Type 131 design to the Ministry but as it did not make use of the required DH9A components did not receive a contract for a prototype However Vickers decided to build a single prototype as a private venture for evaluation against the specification 3 The Vickers 131 Valiant was a single bay biplane of all metal construction sharing much of the structure with the Vivid It was powered by a 492 hp 367 kW Bristol Jupiter engine and the crew of two sat in separate but adjacent cockpits giving good communication between the pilot and observer It could carry up to 500 lb 230 kg of bombs under the wing with a fixed Vickers machine gun for the pilot and a Lewis gun on a Scarff ring for the observer 4 5 The prototype had made its first flight by 5 March 1927 6 and underwent official evaluation against the designs from Bristol the Beaver Fairey the Fairey Ferret and IIIF Gloster the Goral and Westland the Wapiti Its initial tests showed it to possess good handling 7 and was taken forwards for squadron trials along with the Ferret IIIF and Wapiti 8 Following these trials the Wapiti was chosen as the winner with the Valiant which was 30 more expensive than the Wapiti 9 rejected because it was a poor bombing platform not being sufficiently stable 8 Operational history editThe Valiant was shipped to Chile in 1928 for demonstration to the Chilean Air Force that wanted a replacement for their Vixens While no production followed Chile purchased the prototype 1 which entered service with the School of Aviation being destroyed in a crash on 29 March 1929 8 Operators edit nbsp ChileChilean Air ForceSpecifications Type 131 Valiant editData from Limited Editions Part 7 Vickers Valiant biplane 8 General characteristicsCrew Two pilot and observer gunner Length 33 ft 5 1 2 in 10 198 m Wingspan 45 ft 5 in 13 84 m Height 11 ft 7 1 2 in 3 543 m tail down Wing area 597 sq ft 55 5 m2 Empty weight 3 048 lb 1 383 kg Gross weight 4 519 lb 2 050 kg Powerplant 1 Bristol Jupiter VI 9 cylinder radial engine 492 hp 367 kW Performance Maximum speed 130 mph 210 km h 110 kn at sea level Service ceiling 19 650 ft 5 990 m Rate of climb 940 ft min 4 8 m s Armament Guns 2 0 303 7 7 mm machine guns Bombs 500 lb 227 kg of bombsSee also editRelated development Vickers Vixen Vickers VividRelated lists List of bomber aircraftReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers 131 Valiant Notes edit a b Jackson 1974 p 355 Andrews and Morgan pp 187 188 Mason 1994 p 191 Mason 1994 p 192 Jarrett 1997 pp 31 33 Jarrett 1997 p 33 Andrews and Morgan 1988 p 189 a b c d Jarrett 1997 p 35 Mason 1994 p 189 Bibliography edit Andrews C F E B Morgan 1988 Vickers Aircraft since 1908 London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 815 1 Jackson A J 1974 British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3 London Putnam ISBN 0 370 10014 X Jarrett Philip March 1997 Limited Editions Part 7 Vickers Valiant biplane Aeroplane Monthly Vol 25 no 3 London IPC pp 30 36 ISSN 0143 7240 Mason Francis K 1994 The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vickers 131 Valiant amp oldid 1088809929, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
