Vickers Valparaiso

infobox Aircraft
name = Valparaiso
type = Light Bomber
manufacturer = Vickers


caption =
designer =
first flight = 1923
introduced =
introduction=
retired = 1936
status =
primary user = Portugal
more users = Chile
produced =
number built = 28
unit cost =
developed from = Vickers Vixen
variants with their own articles = The Vickers Valparaiso was a British light bomber biplane of the 1920's. It was designed by Vickers as a development of the Vickers Vixen for export, being sold to Portugal and Chile.

Development and design

The Vickers Valparaiso was a derivative of the Vickers Vixen I for export purposes. It was renamed Valparaiso to distinguish it from the Vixen, which as it used classified government equipment, was unavailable for export. Two versions were available, one powered by the same Napier Lion as the Vixen, known as the Type 93 Valparaiso I, while the Type 92 Valparaiso II was powered by the Rolls-Royce Eagle engine Donald 1997, p.892. ] Other than their engines, the Valparaisos were very similar to the Vixen I, being single bay biplanes with wooden wings and steel tube fuselages. Both versions were purchased by Portugal, who ordered 10 Valparaiso Is and 4 Valparaiso IIs, with the Lion powered aircraft to serve as reconnaissance bombers and the lower powered Valpariso IIs to serve as advanced trainers. Lopes 1985, p.46.] In 1928, Portugal decided to license produce a modified Valparaiso powered by a Gnome et Rhône Jupiter radial engine, and a single Valparaiso was modified by Vickers to use the Jupiter, followed by the production of thirteen aircraft, designated Type 168 Valparaiso III by OGMA ("Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico"). Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.181.]

Operational history

The Portuguese aircraft proved to be successful in service, with two carrying out a long distance tour from Portugal to its African colonies of Angola and Mozambique and back in 1928, with the success of the aircraft resulting in the decision to license produce the Valparaiso III.. The radial powered Valparaisos also proved successful in Portuguese service, remaining operational until 1943, finally being replaced be Westland Lysanders. Lopes 1985, p.48.]

A single Valparaiso I (actually the prototype), was sold by Vickers to Chile in 1924. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.180.] It was successful in Chilean service, resulting in an order for a further 18 modified aircraft, which reverted to the original name of Vickers Vixen, as the Vixen V. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.184.]

Variants

;Type 93 Valparaiso I:Napier Lion powered export version of Vickers Vixen. Eleven built.;Type 92 Valparaiso II:Rolls-Royce Eagle powered version. Four built.;Type 168 Valparaiso III:Version powered by Jupiter radial for Portugal. Thirteen licensed built by OGMA.

Operators

;CHI
*Chilean Navy;POR
*"Aeronáutica Militar" (Portuguese Army Aviation)

pecifications (Valparaiso I)

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

ref= Vickers Aircraft Since 1908 Andrews ad Morgan 1988, p.193.]

crew=Two
capacity=
length main= 29 ft 0 in
length alt= 8.84 m
span main= 40 ft 0 in
span alt= 12.20 m
height main= 11 ft 8 in
height alt= 3.56 m
area main= 526 ft²
area alt= 48.9 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,128 lb
empty weight alt= 1,422 kg
loaded weight main= 4,720 lb
loaded weight alt= 2,145 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Napier Lion IA
type of prop=12 cylinder water cooled W-block
number of props=1
power main= 468 hp
power alt= 349 kW
power original=
max speed main= 118 knots
max speed alt= 136 mph, 219 km/h
max speed more= at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
cruise speed main= 96 knots
cruise speed alt= 110 mph, 177 km/hcite web |url= http://www.emfa.pt/www/includes/janelaHistoricas.php?lang=pt&chave=1924vickers-valparaiso-i|title= Vickers Valparaiso I
accessdate=2007-08-06 |language= Portuguese ]
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 478 nm
range alt= 550 mi, 886 km
ceiling main= 19,500 ft
ceiling alt= 5,950 m
climb rate main= 951 ft/min
climb rate alt= 4.8 m/s
loading main= 8.97 lb/ft²
loading alt= 43.9 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.099 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.16 kW/kg
more performance=*Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 10 min 15 sec

armament=
*Two forward firing Vickers machine gun
*One Lewis gun in observers cockpit

ee also

aircontent

related=*Vickers Vixen
*Vickers Venture

similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=

References

*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
*cite book|author=Donald, David (Editor)|title = The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft|year = 1997|publisher = Aerospace Publishing|isbn = 1-85605-375-X
*cite journal |last= Lopes|first=Eng. Mario Canongia |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1985 |title=Vixen, Venture , Valpariso: A Forgotten Family of Vickers Biplanes |journal=Air Enthusiast |volume= |issue= Issue 27 (March June 1985)|pages= pp.43—51|publisher=Pilot Press |location=Bromley, Kent, UK|issn=0143-5450

External links

[http://www.geocities.com/aeromodelismoemportugal/vickers.htm "Vickers Valparaiso I e II" (in Portuguese)]