Vickers Vildebeest Aircraft

Vildebeest, MAEE. Copyright: Arvo Vercamer

Production Details

Design Company:

Vickers (Aviation) Ltd, Weybridge

First Flight:

Spring 1928

Type 132:

1 - Vickers

Type 204:

1 - Vickers

Vildebeest I:

22 - Vickers

Vildebeest II:

30 - Vickers

Vildebeest III:

111 - Vickers

Vildebeest IV:

18 - Vickers

Type 245:

26 - Spain

Type Specification

Applies to:

Vickers Vildebeest III

Type:

Torpedo bomber

Wing:

Single bay, equal span, unstaggered, unswept biplane of all metal structure with fabric covering. Ailerons on all four wings

Fuselage:

All metal structure with fabric covering. Fuselage mounted on lower wing

Tail Unit:

Braced tailplane with balanced elevators. Fin and balanced rudder

Landing Gear:

Divided main gear. Each main wheel attached to oleo leg and supported by radius rod and sloped axle. Tail wheel

Power Plant:

One 635 hp Bristol Pegasus IIM3 engine in nose

Accommodation:

Crew of three in tandem open cockpits joined by cabin. Pilots cockpit level with wing leading edge, gunners cockpit aft of trailing edge

Armament:

One Vickers gun forward and one Lewis gun aft. One 18 in torpedo or 1,000 lb bomb

Span:

49 ft

Length:

36 ft 8 in

Height:

14 ft 8 in

Wing Area:

728 sq ft

Empty:

4,773 lb

Gross:

8,500 lb

Max Speed:

143 mph

Initial Climb:

630 ft/min

Absolute Ceiling:

19,000 ft

Range:

1,250 miles

Preserved in British Museums

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