Vickers Valetta

Infobox Aircraft
name=Valetta


caption=
type=Twin-engined military transport
manufacturer=Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd
designer=
first flight=30 June 1947
introduced=
retired=
status=
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built=263
unit cost=
developed from=Vickers VC.1 Viking
variants with their own articles=Vickers VarsityThe Vickers Valetta was a British twin-engined military transport of the late 1940s.It was an all-metal mid-wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage.

Design and development

The Valetta was a military transport development of the Vickers VC.1 Viking civil airliner. The 158th Viking became the prototype Valetta, which first flew on 30 June 1947 Thetford 1957 ] . The Valetta differed from the Viking fundamentally in being fitted with more powerful engines, a strengthened floor and large loading doors Donald, David, ed. "The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft". London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.] .

The Viking and Valetta provided the basis of the Vickers Varsity. The only difference between the Varsity and the Valetta was the position of the third wheel. The Varsity had a nose wheel and the Valetta a tail wheel.

Operational history

The Valetta C.1 entered service with the RAF in 1948, replacing the Douglas Dakota with RAF Transport Command and with transport squadrons in the Middle and Far East . The Valetta was used used to carry out parachute drops in the 1956 Suez Crisis [ [http://britains-smallwars.com/suez/Drop.html "Britain's Small Wars - The Last Drop 3 Para at El Gamil airfield".] Retrieved: 10 April 2007.] , and was used to provide transport support for a number of other British Military operations in the 1950s and 1960s, such as during the Malayan Emergency [ [http://britains-smallwars.com/malaya/raf.html "Britain's Small Wars - RAF in Malaya".] Retrieved: 10 April 2007.] and operations in Aden [ [http://britains-smallwars.com/Aden/raf.html "Britain's Small Wars - The RAF in Aden and the Radafan".] Retrieved: 10 April 2007.] .

Variants

* Valetta C.1 - transport, 211 built
* Valetta C.2 - VIP transport, 11 built
* Valetta T.3 - aircrew trainer, 40 built
* Valetta T.4 - converted from T.3 with radar fitted in nose Taylor, Michael J.H. "Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation". London: Studio Editions, 1989. ISBN 0-51710-316-8.] .

Operators

; UK
* Royal Air Force
** No. 30 Squadron RAF
** No. 48 Squadron RAF
** No. 52 Squadron RAF
** No. 70 Squadron RAF
** No. 78 Squadron RAF
** No. 84 Squadron RAF
** No. 110 Squadron RAF
** No. 114 Squadron RAF
** No. 115 Squadron RAF
** No. 167 Squadron RAF
** No. 173 Squadron RAF
** No. 187 Squadron RAF
** No. 204 Squadron RAF
** No. 215 Squadron RAF
** No. 216 Squadron RAF
** No. 233 Squadron RAF
** No. 622 Squadron RAF
** No. 683 Squadron RAF

Specifications (Vickers Valetta C.1)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref=/www.britishaircraft.co.uk [ [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=25 Vickers Valetta] Retrieved: 10 April 2007.]
crew=4
capacity=34 troops or 20 paratroops
length main= 62 ft 11 in
length alt= 19.18 m
span main= 89 ft 3 in
span alt= 27.21 m
height main= 19 ft 7 in
height alt= 5.97 m
area main= 882 ft²
area alt= 82.0 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 24,980 lb
empty weight alt= 11,355 kg
loaded weight main= 36,500lb
loaded weight alt= 16,591 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Bristol Hercules 230 ,
type of prop=9-cylinder radial piston engine withde Havilland or Rotol four-blade constant-speed propellors
number of props=2
power main= 1,975 hp
power alt= 1,473 kW
power original=
max speed main= 224 knots
max speed alt= 258 mph, 415 km/h
max speed more= at 10,000 ft
cruise speed main= 150 knots
cruise speed alt= 172 mph, 277 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 1,270 nm
range alt= 1,460 miles, 2,350 km
ceiling main= 21,500 ft
ceiling alt= 6,550 m
climb rate main= 1,275 ft/min
climb rate alt= 6.48 m/s
loading main= 41.4 lb/ft²
loading alt= 202 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.108 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.178 kW/kg
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Vickers Varsity
* Vickers VC.1 Viking
similar aircraft=
lists=
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Thetford, Owen. "Aircraft of the Royal Aircraft 1918-57, 1st edition". London: Putnam, 1957.

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=25 Vickers Valetta]