Work on the Virginia was started in 1920, as a replacement for the Vimy. Two prototypes were ordered on 13 January 1921 and another two prototypes were ordered in September 1922.[1] The Virginia was similar to the Vimy but notably had a lowered front gunner's pulpit to allow the pilot a greater field of view, 20 ft (6 m) greater wingspan and a 9 ft (3 m) longer fuselage. The aircraft was powered by twin Napier Lion engines and flew for the first time on 24 November 1922.[2]
At the Aircraft Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath, the Virginia prototype underwent type trials. One of the first modifications was to replace the original two-bladed propellers with four-bladed propellers. An unusual set of "fighting top" turrets were added to the top wings, but these were later deleted from production aircraft.[3] Marks I–VI had straight wings and the Mark VII introduced swept outer wings. Starting with the Mark III the Virginia mounted a rear fuselage gunner, who was moved into a tail turret in the Mark VII. The Mark X was introduced in late 1924 and featured a duralumin and steel structure covered in fabric, aluminium, and wood. A total of 124 Virginias were built, of which 50 were Mark Xs.
Operational history
The first squadron of Virginia Mark Is was formed in 1924. Despite mediocre performance, the aircraft served frontline units until 1938, when it was replaced by the newer Wellingtons, Hampdens and Whitleys. Designs such as the Fairey Hendon and Handley Page Heyford supplemented rather than replaced the Virginia.
The final almost all-metal Virginia Mark X was the most numerous RAF bomber until the Heyford in 1934. After its technical obsolescence as a bomber it was used for photography and for parachute training, with jump platforms installed behind the engine nacelles. On 26 June 1940, a committee discussing the need for airborne cannon for use against invading tanks suggested equipping Virginias with the equally antiquated COW 37 mm gun (1.46 in Coventry Ordnance Works gun). This was not acted on.
In the 1930s, the Virginias were used in some of the first tests of inflight refueling, although they were never used outside of tests. The Virginia was developed in parallel with the Vickers Victoria freighter and the two aircraft had much in common, sharing the same wing design. The Virginias were highly accident prone, with 81 losses. Despite their obsolescence, Virginias continued to soldier on in support roles with the Parachute Test Flight at Henlow until December 1941.[3]
Variants
Type 57 Virginia Mk I
Initial prototype for the RAF, powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Napier Lion piston engines. One prototype only.
Type 96 Virginia Mk I
The first type 57 Virginia prototype was re-engined with two 650 hp (490 kW) Rolls-Royce Condor piston engines. One prototype only.
Type 115 Virginia Mk VIII
The Type 96 Virginia prototype was fitted with a lengthened fuselage, new forward fuselage and gun positions. One prototype only.
Type 129 Virginia Mk VII
The Type 115 Virginia was converted into the Virginia VII prototype. One prototype only.
Type 76 Virginia Mk II
Second Virginia prototype, powered by two Napier lion piston engines, fitted with lengthened nose. One built.
Type 79 Virginia Mk III
Twin-engined heavy night bomber biplane for the RAF, powered by two 468 hp (349 kW) Napier Lion II piston engines, equipped with dual controls. Six built.
Type 99 Virginia Mk IV
Twin-engined heavy night-bomber biplane. Similar to the Virginia Mk II, but with additional equipment.
Type 100 Virginia Mk V
Twin-engined heavy night-bomber biplane, equipped with a third (central) rudder in the tail unit. 22 built.
Type 108 Virginia Mk VI
Twin-engined heavy night-bomber biplane. Introduced revisions in wing folding and rigging. 25 built.
Type 112 Virginia Mk VII
Twin-engined heavy night-bomber biplane. Redesigned nose, lengthened rear fuselage and sweepback wings. 11 built and 38 conversions.
Type 128 Virginia Mk IX
Twin-engined heavy night-bomber biplane. Introduced automatic slats, wheel breaks and a tail gunner's position. Eight built and 27 conversions.
Type 139 Virginia Mk X
Twin-engined heavy night-bomber biplane. Incorporated an all-metal structure. 50 built and 53 conversions.
Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN0-85177-815-1.
Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and by Night:Vickers Virginia". Aeroplane Monthly, May 1993, Vol 21 No 5, Issue No 241. ISSN 0143-7240. pp. 24–29, 45.
Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam, 1994. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
Morgan, Eric. "Big Bombers from Brooklands: The RAF's Virginia Family." Air Enthusiast, Thirty-one, July–November 1986, pp. 34–42, 7179. Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. ISSN 0143-5450.
Sturivant, Ray. "Vickers Virginia X J6856." Aviation News, Vol. 13, No. 22, 22 March–4 April 1985.
Thetford, Owen. "By Day and by Night: Ginnies in Service", Part 1. Aeroplane Monthly, June 1993, Vol. 21, No. 6, Issue No. 242, pp. 32–39. ISSN 0143-7240.
Thetford, Owen. "By Day and by Night: Ginnies in Service", Part 2. Aeroplane Monthly, July 1993, Vol. 22, No. 1, Issue No. 243, pp. 18–23.. ISSN 0143-7240.
Winchester, Jim. Bombers of the 20th Century. London: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN1-84037-386-5.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers Virginia.
January 07, 2023
vickers, virginia, biplane, heavy, bomber, british, royal, force, developed, from, vickers, vimy, virginiavirginia, 1922role, heavy, night, bombermanufacturer, vickers, limitedfirst, flight, november, 1922introduction, 1924retired, 1941primary, user, royal, fo. The Vickers Virginia was a biplane heavy bomber of the British Royal Air Force developed from the Vickers Vimy VirginiaVirginia X in 1922Role Heavy night bomberManufacturer Vickers LimitedFirst flight 24 November 1922Introduction 1924Retired 1941Primary user Royal Air ForceNumber built 124Developed from Vickers VimyVickers Virginia in flight Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Video 6 Specifications Virginia X 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksDesign and development EditWork on the Virginia was started in 1920 as a replacement for the Vimy Two prototypes were ordered on 13 January 1921 and another two prototypes were ordered in September 1922 1 The Virginia was similar to the Vimy but notably had a lowered front gunner s pulpit to allow the pilot a greater field of view 20 ft 6 m greater wingspan and a 9 ft 3 m longer fuselage The aircraft was powered by twin Napier Lion engines and flew for the first time on 24 November 1922 2 At the Aircraft Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath the Virginia prototype underwent type trials One of the first modifications was to replace the original two bladed propellers with four bladed propellers An unusual set of fighting top turrets were added to the top wings but these were later deleted from production aircraft 3 Marks I VI had straight wings and the Mark VII introduced swept outer wings Starting with the Mark III the Virginia mounted a rear fuselage gunner who was moved into a tail turret in the Mark VII The Mark X was introduced in late 1924 and featured a duralumin and steel structure covered in fabric aluminium and wood A total of 124 Virginias were built of which 50 were Mark Xs Operational history EditThe first squadron of Virginia Mark Is was formed in 1924 Despite mediocre performance the aircraft served frontline units until 1938 when it was replaced by the newer Wellingtons Hampdens and Whitleys Designs such as the Fairey Hendon and Handley Page Heyford supplemented rather than replaced the Virginia The final almost all metal Virginia Mark X was the most numerous RAF bomber until the Heyford in 1934 After its technical obsolescence as a bomber it was used for photography and for parachute training with jump platforms installed behind the engine nacelles On 26 June 1940 a committee discussing the need for airborne cannon for use against invading tanks suggested equipping Virginias with the equally antiquated COW 37 mm gun 1 46 in Coventry Ordnance Works gun This was not acted on In the 1930s the Virginias were used in some of the first tests of inflight refueling although they were never used outside of tests The Virginia was developed in parallel with the Vickers Victoria freighter and the two aircraft had much in common sharing the same wing design The Virginias were highly accident prone with 81 losses Despite their obsolescence Virginias continued to soldier on in support roles with the Parachute Test Flight at Henlow until December 1941 3 Variants EditType 57 Virginia Mk I Initial prototype for the RAF powered by two 450 hp 340 kW Napier Lion piston engines One prototype only Type 96 Virginia Mk I The first type 57 Virginia prototype was re engined with two 650 hp 490 kW Rolls Royce Condor piston engines One prototype only Type 115 Virginia Mk VIII The Type 96 Virginia prototype was fitted with a lengthened fuselage new forward fuselage and gun positions One prototype only Type 129 Virginia Mk VII The Type 115 Virginia was converted into the Virginia VII prototype One prototype only Type 76 Virginia Mk II Second Virginia prototype powered by two Napier lion piston engines fitted with lengthened nose One built Type 79 Virginia Mk III Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane for the RAF powered by two 468 hp 349 kW Napier Lion II piston engines equipped with dual controls Six built Type 99 Virginia Mk IV Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane Similar to the Virginia Mk II but with additional equipment Type 100 Virginia Mk V Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane equipped with a third central rudder in the tail unit 22 built Type 108 Virginia Mk VI Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane Introduced revisions in wing folding and rigging 25 built Type 112 Virginia Mk VII Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane Redesigned nose lengthened rear fuselage and sweepback wings 11 built and 38 conversions Type 128 Virginia Mk IX Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane Introduced automatic slats wheel breaks and a tail gunner s position Eight built and 27 conversions Type 139 Virginia Mk X Twin engined heavy night bomber biplane Incorporated an all metal structure 50 built and 53 conversions Operators Edit United KingdomRoyal Air Force 4 No 7 Squadron RAF May 1924 to March 1936 RAF Bircham Newton RAF Worthy Down No 9 Squadron RAF April 1924 to May 1936 RAF Boscombe Down RAF Andover RAF Aldergrove No 10 Squadron RAF September 1932 to January 1935 RAF Boscombe Down No 51 Squadron RAF March 1937 to February 1938 RAF Driffield RAF Boscombe Down No 58 Squadron RAF December 1924 to January 1938 RAF Worthy Down RAF Upper Heyford RAF Driffield RAF Boscombe Down No 75 Squadron RAF March to September 1937 RAF Driffield No 214 Squadron RAF September 1935 to April 1937 RAF Boscombe Down RAF Andover RAF Scampton No 215 Squadron RAF October 1935 to September 1937 RAF Worthy Down RAF Upper Heyford RAF Driffield No 500 Squadron RAF March 1931 to January 1936 RAF Manston No 502 Squadron RAF December 1931 to October 1935 RAF Aldergrove Night Flying Flight RAF Biggin Hill Parachute Test Flight RAF Henlow Research Development Flight RAF Farnborough RAF Exeter Video EditFilm of Vickers Virginia flight operations Film of an experimental catapult launch of a Vickers VirginiaSpecifications Virginia X EditData from The British Bomber since 1914 5 General characteristicsCrew Four Length 52 ft 3 in 15 93 m Wingspan 87 ft 8 in 26 72 m Height 18 ft 2 in 5 54 m Wing area 2 178 sq ft 202 3 m2 Empty weight 9 650 lb 4 377 kg Gross weight 17 600 lb 7 983 kg Powerplant 2 Napier Lion VB 12 cylinder water cooled broad arrow engines 580 hp 430 kW eachPerformance Maximum speed 108 mph 174 km h 94 kn at 5 000 ft 1 500 m Range 985 mi 1 585 km 856 nmi Service ceiling 13 800 ft 4 200 m Time to altitude 10 min to 5 000 ft 1 500 m Armament Guns 3 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine guns Bombs 3 000 lb 1 360 kg of bombsSee also EditRelated development Vickers VictoriaRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Air ForceReferences EditNotes Jarrett Aeroplane Monthly May 1993 p 25 Andrews and Morgan 1989 p 131 a b Sturvivant 1985 p 849 Thetford Aeroplane Monthly July 1993 pp 22 23 Mason 1994 p 145 BibliographyAndrews C F and E B Morgan Vickers Aircraft since 1908 London Putnam 1989 ISBN 0 85177 815 1 Jarrett Philip By Day and by Night Vickers Virginia Aeroplane Monthly May 1993 Vol 21 No 5 Issue No 241 ISSN 0143 7240 pp 24 29 45 Mason Francis K The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam 1994 ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Morgan Eric Big Bombers from Brooklands The RAF s Virginia Family Air Enthusiast Thirty one July November 1986 pp 34 42 7179 Bromley UK Fine Scroll ISSN 0143 5450 Sturivant Ray Vickers Virginia X J6856 Aviation News Vol 13 No 22 22 March 4 April 1985 Thetford Owen By Day and by Night Ginnies in Service Part 1 Aeroplane Monthly June 1993 Vol 21 No 6 Issue No 242 pp 32 39 ISSN 0143 7240 Thetford Owen By Day and by Night Ginnies in Service Part 2 Aeroplane Monthly July 1993 Vol 22 No 1 Issue No 243 pp 18 23 ISSN 0143 7240 Winchester Jim Bombers of the 20th Century London Airlife Publishing Ltd 2003 ISBN 1 84037 386 5 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers Virginia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vickers Virginia amp oldid 1113166178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
