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Canadian Vickers Vancouver

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Top speed
  
151 km/h

Length
  
12 m

First flight
  
1929

Wingspan
  
17 m

Retired
  
1940

Manufacturer
  
Canadian Vickers

Canadian Vickers Vancouver httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

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

Contents

It was a twin-engine, equal-span biplane. The hull was of metal and the rest of the structure 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 firefighting 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After the outbreak of the Second World War, Vancouvers served with 4 Squadron, RCAF at Jericho Beach Air Station until withdrawn from service in 1940. After a brief period of service in training duties, they were finally withdrawn and struck off in 1940.

None of the aircraft saw service after 1940, one private offer to acquire was denied.

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: two (nine 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: 94 mph; 82 kn (151 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 86 mph; 75 kn (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)

    • References

    Canadian Vickers Vancouver Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA