Vickers Virginia

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Virginia
Type	heavy night-bomber
Manufacturer	Vickers Limited
Maiden flight	1922
Introduced	1924
Retired	1941
Status	Out of service
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	124
Developed from	Vickers Vimy

The Vickers Virginia was a biplane heavy bomber of the British Royal Air Force, developed from the Vickers Vimy.

1 Origins
2 Operation
3 Variants
4 Operators
5 Units using the Virginia
6 Specifications (Virginia X)
7 Operators
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Origins

The work on the Virginia was started in 1921 as a replacement to the Vimy. The Virginia was similar to the Vimy, but notably had a lowered front gunner's pulpit to allow the pilot a greater field of view, 20 feet (6 meter) greater wingspan, and a 9 ft (2.7 m) longer fuselage. The Virginia was powered by twin Napier Lion engines which provided it with almost twice as much power as the Vimy. The Virginia flew for the first time on November 24, 1922.

The Mark I-VI had straight wings, whereas the Mark VII introduced swept outer wings. Starting with the Mark III the Viriginia mounted a rear fuselage gunner, who was moved into a tail turret in the Mark VII.

The Mark X was introduced in late 1924 and featured a duralumin and steel structure covered in fabric, aluminum, and wood.

124 Virginias were built in total, of which fifty were Mark X.

[edit] Operation

The first squadron of Mark I Virginias was assembled in 1924. Despite mediocre performance the aircraft served front line units until 1938, when it was replaced by the newer Wellingtons, Hampdens and Whitleys.

The final almost all-metal Virginia Mark X were the most numerous RAF bombers until the ascendance of the Heyford in 1934. After its technical obsolescence as a bomber it was used for photography and for parachute training, with jump platforms installed behind the engine nacelles. On June 26, 1940, a committee discussing the need for airborne cannon for use against invasion tanks included the perhaps non-serious suggestion of equipping Virginias with the equally antiquated 37mm COW gun. This was not acted on. Virginias continued in support roles until 1941.

In the 1930s the Virginias were used in some of the first tests of midair refueling, although they were never used in this role outside of tests.

The Virginia was developed in parallel with the Victoria freighter, and the two planes had much in common, notably sharing the same design of wing.

The Virginias were highly accident prone, with 81 lost in this manner.

[edit] Variants

Type 57 Virginia : The first prototype. One built.
Virginia Mk I : Initial prototype for the RAF. Powered by two 450-hp (336-kW) Napier Lion piston engines. One built.
Type 96 Virginia Mk I : Re-engined Virginia Mk I. Powered by two 650-hp (485-kW) Rolls-Royce Condor engines.
Type 115 Virginia Mk VIII : Prototype. One built.
Type 129 Virginia Mk VII : The Mk VIII prototype was converted into the Virginia VII. Virginia VII prototype.
Type 76 Virginia Mk II : The second prototype. One built.
Type 79 Virginia Mk III : Heavy night bomber biplane for the RAF. Powered by two 468-hp (349-kW) Napier Lion II piston engines. Six built.
Type 99 Virginia Mk IV :
Type 100 Virginia Mk V :
Type 108 Virginia Mk VI :
Type 112 Virginia Mk VII : Prototype.
Type 128 Virginia Mk IX :
Type 139 Virginia Mk X :