Vickers Type 264 Valentia

:"For the flying boat, see Vickers Valentia"infobox Aircraft
name = Type 264 Valentia
type = Bomber Transport
manufacturer = Vickers


caption =
designer =
first flight =
introduction = 1934
retired = 1943
status =
primary user = Royal Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Vickers Victoria
variants with their own articles =

The Valentia (within the company known as the "Type 264") was a British biplane cargo aircraft built by Vickers for the Royal Air Force. The majority built were conversions of the early Vickers Victoria.

Design and development

While the Napier Lion powered Vickers Victoria served successfully with the RAF as a bomber transport, by 1932, the Lion engine was becoming obsolete and it was clear that it could use more power. It was therefore decided to re-engine the aircraft with more powerful Bristol Pegasus engines cite book |last= Andrews|first=E.N. |coauthors=Morgan, E.B. |title= Vickers Aircraft Since 1908 |edition= Second edition |year= 1988 |publisher= Putnam|location= London |isbn=0 85177 815 1 |pages= p.163-171, 176] . It was decided to carry out a two stage upgrade, with the first, which was designated the Victoria Mk VI, or "Configuration I", retaining the airframe of the Victoria, and therefore having a limited maximum weight, and a version with a strengthened airframe capable of taking full advantage of the greater power of the Pegasus engine. This was known as "Configuration 2" and was designated the Vickers Valentia . It flew for the first time in 1934.

Orders were placed for the 28 new build Valentias to Specification 30/34, with a further 54 being converted from Victorias (Type 278 within the company), with production continuing until 1936 .

Operational history

The Valentia first entered service with No. 70 Squadron RAF at Hinaidi, Iraq in 1934 , equipping British forces in India, Persia and Iraq.

Like the preceding Vickers Vernons and Victorias, the Valentias were extensively used for transport operations in the Middle East, and when necessary used for bombing operations with bomb racks under the wings. Valentias were also fitted with loudspeakers for experiments with sky-shouting (i.e using the loudspeakers to address people, in this case potentially rebellious tribes during air policing duties, while in flight). The Valentia was also used for experiments with aerial refuelling by Alan Cobham).

Valentias were used for night bombing operations over the Western Desert in 1940 and remained in service with the Iraq and Persia Communications Flight until 1944 .

Variants

* Valentia Mk I : Military transport aircraft for the RAF.

Operators

;flag|South Africa|1928
* South African Air Force;UK
* Royal Air Force
** No. 31 Squadron RAF
** No. 70 Squadron RAF
** No. 216 Squadron RAF
** No. 244 Squadron RAF

Specifications (Valentia Mk. I)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Aircraft of the Royal Air ForceCite book|author=Thetford, Owen|title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57|edition= 1st edition |publisher=Putnam |location= London|year=1957|pages=p. 430-431|id=

crew=2
capacity= 22 troops
length main= 59 ft 6 in
length alt= 18.14 m
span main= 87 ft 4 in
span alt= 26.63 m
height main= 17 ft 9 in
height alt= 5.41 m
area main= 2,178 ft²
area alt= 202.4 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 10,944 lb
empty weight alt= 4,975 kg
loaded weight main= 19,500 lb
loaded weight alt= 8,864 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Bristol Pegasus II L3 or M3
type of prop= radial
number of props=2
power main= 650 hp
power alt= 485 kW
power original=

max speed main= 113 knots
max speed alt= 130mph, 209 km/h
max speed more= (at 5000 ft)
cruise speed main= 102 knots
cruise speed alt= 117 mph, 188 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 696 nm
range alt= 800 mi, 1288 km
ceiling main= 16,250 ft
ceiling alt= 4950 m
climb rate main= 700 ft/min
climb rate alt= 3.56 m/s
loading main= 8.95 lb/ft²
loading alt= 43.8 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.067 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.11 kW/kg
more performance=
bombs= *Could be fitted with underwing racks for 2,200 lb of bombs.

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=None

similar aircraft=

lists=
*List of aircraft of the RAF

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References