Vickers Wibault

infobox Aircraft
name = Type 121
type = Fighter
manufacturer = Vickers



caption =
designer =
first flight = 1926
introduced = 1926
introduction=
retired = 1934
status =
primary user = Chile
more users =
produced =
number built = 26
unit cost =
developed from = Wibault 7
variants with their own articles =

The Vickers Type 121 Wibault Scout was a British fighter built by Vickers in the 1920s. It was a licensed version of the French Wibault 7 aircraft, with 26 being sold to Chile in 1926, where they served until 1934.

Design and development

Vickers set up a partnership with the French aircraft manufacturer, Avions Marcel Wibault to exploit the patented system of all metal construction developed by Wibault. This used corrugated light alloy skin panels, and made for easy maintenance and inspection Andrews and Morgan 1988] . As part of this partnership, Vickers placed an order with Wibault for a single Wibault 7, re-engined with a Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine, to act as a prototype for potential licensed production. The Wibault 7, and therefore the Vickers licenced copy, was a single engined high wing parasol monoplane.

The prototype, which differed from the standard Wibault 7 by having a new undercarriage and British instruments, was delivered to Britain in February 1926 Green and Swanborough 1994] and was later fitted by Vickers with strengthened wing struts. The durability of the aircraft's all metal structure, together with promised good altitude performance, attracted the attentions of the Chilean Military Air Service, who after evaluating the prototype, placed an order for 26 aircraft, known as the Vickers Type 121, or Vickers-Wibault Scout.

The first Vickers built Type 121 flew at the end of June 1926, but crashed following an inverted spin on its first flight. This was found to be due to problems with the aircraft's centre of gravity, which were resolved by modifying the tailplane Mason 1992] .

Operational history

The first Type 121s were delivered to Chile in November 1926, partly equipping the "Groupo Mixto de Aviación 1", with deliveries continuing until October 1927 . Several were lost in accidents, with at least one losing its wing in flight , but it remained in service when the Chilean Air Force was formed from the air components of the Chilean army and navy, finally being retired in 1934 .

Operators

;CHL
*Chilean Air Force

pecifications (Type 121)

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

ref=The British Fighter since 1912

crew=One
capacity=
length main= 23 ft 8 in
length alt= 7.22 m
span main= 36 ft 1 in
span alt= m
height main= 11 ft 6 in
height alt= 11.00 m
area main= 237 ft²
area alt= 22.0 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,920 lb
empty weight alt= 873 kg
loaded weight main= 2,970 lb
loaded weight alt= 1,350 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)= Bristol Jupiter VI
type of prop= nine cylinder radial
number of props=1
power main= 455 hp
power alt= 339 kW
power original=
max speed main= 125 knots
max speed alt= 144 mph, 232 km/h
max speed more= at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 261 nm
range alt= 300 mi, 483 km
ceiling main= 23,000 ft
ceiling alt= 7,010 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 12.5 lb/ft²
loading alt= 61.4 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.15 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.25 kW/kg
more performance=*Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 7 min 40 sec

armament=*Two Vickers machine guns

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=*Wibault 7

similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=

References

;Notes;Bibliography
* Andrews, E.N. and Morgan, E.B. "Vickers Aircraft Since 1908, Second edition". London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
* Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". New York: Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
* Mason, Francis K. "The British Fighter since 1912". Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.

External links

* [http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/vickers_121.php Vickers 121 Wibault Scout]