Lot Essay
The Vickers Vimy acquired immortality through the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic in June 1919 flown by Alcock and Brown.
The Vimy had been designed and built as a heavy bomber for use against Germany in the First World War but entered service just too late to see action. It was however an interesting aircraft type from the moment it was conceived as a strategic bomber, capable of carrying a viable bombload to the heart of Germany. This was in September 1917 when the relatively ineffective Zeppelin offensive against London was replaced by much more damaging bombing of British targets by German aeroplanes (principally the Gotha). The incentive to have a British bomber in service as quickly as possible led to the Vimy being designed, built and flown within the remarkably short period of four months.
The plan, initially made in July 1917, had been to utilise surplus Hispano engines because the demand for Rolls-Royce Eagles exceeded the production capabilities. The first Vimy prototype was flown by Gordon Bell on 30thNovember 1917. The Hispanos proved to be unreliable and were replaced with 260hp Samsons, while there were problems with other prototype Vimys fitted with Sunbeam Maoris being lost through engine failure during early development flying; the third prototype, fitted with Fiats, crashed on take off with a full bomb load. Fortunately the fourth prototype had been fitted with Eagles and, during trials at the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath, proved to have exceptional performance for the period.
The first trans-Atlantic flight covered 1,890 miles and took 16 hours 27 minutes in weather conditions which were poor and led to occasional icing of engine intakes. The Vimy was standard in its specification save for the removal of all military equipment and the installation of extra fuel tanks. The engines were unmodified 360hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIIIs. The aircraft was damaged during Alcock and Brown's landing on boggy ground in County Galway, Ireland, but was rebuilt by Vickers at Weybridge and now resides in the Science Museum, London.
Another Vimy, carrying the civil registration G-AEOU and flown by the Smith brothers, Ross and Keith, of the Australian Air Force covered the 11,130 miles from Hounslow near London to Darwin in Australia in 28 days at the end of 1919. This Vimy was again a standard military example apart from additional stores for tropical flying. It is now preserved in a memorial hall at Adelaide airport in recognition of its success in meeting the Australian government's challenge - and offer of a 10,000 prize - for the first flight from Britain to Australia by Australians.
A less successful Vimy flight from England to Cape Town followed in 1920 flown by Pierre Van Ryneveld and Quintin Brand of the South Africa Air Force. Although the objective was achieved, the first Vimy, Silver Queen, crashed between Cairo and Khartoum and had to be replaced by another on loan from the Royal Air Force and named Silver Queen II. All six crew members from these three pioneering flights were knighted by King George V.
Although the Vimy did not see service in the First World War, the type was used extensively in the Middle East and with home-based squadrons until replaced by the more powerful Virginia. After withdrawal from front line service, some Vimys were re-engined with either Jupiter or Jaguar radials and used in flying training schools. A few Vimys were used up to the time of the 1938 Munich crisis as target aircraft for the searchlight arcs of the Royal Engineers.
The Vimy had been designed and built as a heavy bomber for use against Germany in the First World War but entered service just too late to see action. It was however an interesting aircraft type from the moment it was conceived as a strategic bomber, capable of carrying a viable bombload to the heart of Germany. This was in September 1917 when the relatively ineffective Zeppelin offensive against London was replaced by much more damaging bombing of British targets by German aeroplanes (principally the Gotha). The incentive to have a British bomber in service as quickly as possible led to the Vimy being designed, built and flown within the remarkably short period of four months.
The plan, initially made in July 1917, had been to utilise surplus Hispano engines because the demand for Rolls-Royce Eagles exceeded the production capabilities. The first Vimy prototype was flown by Gordon Bell on 30
The first trans-Atlantic flight covered 1,890 miles and took 16 hours 27 minutes in weather conditions which were poor and led to occasional icing of engine intakes. The Vimy was standard in its specification save for the removal of all military equipment and the installation of extra fuel tanks. The engines were unmodified 360hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIIIs. The aircraft was damaged during Alcock and Brown's landing on boggy ground in County Galway, Ireland, but was rebuilt by Vickers at Weybridge and now resides in the Science Museum, London.
Another Vimy, carrying the civil registration G-AEOU and flown by the Smith brothers, Ross and Keith, of the Australian Air Force covered the 11,130 miles from Hounslow near London to Darwin in Australia in 28 days at the end of 1919. This Vimy was again a standard military example apart from additional stores for tropical flying. It is now preserved in a memorial hall at Adelaide airport in recognition of its success in meeting the Australian government's challenge - and offer of a 10,000 prize - for the first flight from Britain to Australia by Australians.
A less successful Vimy flight from England to Cape Town followed in 1920 flown by Pierre Van Ryneveld and Quintin Brand of the South Africa Air Force. Although the objective was achieved, the first Vimy, Silver Queen, crashed between Cairo and Khartoum and had to be replaced by another on loan from the Royal Air Force and named Silver Queen II. All six crew members from these three pioneering flights were knighted by King George V.
Although the Vimy did not see service in the First World War, the type was used extensively in the Middle East and with home-based squadrons until replaced by the more powerful Virginia. After withdrawal from front line service, some Vimys were re-engined with either Jupiter or Jaguar radials and used in flying training schools. A few Vimys were used up to the time of the 1938 Munich crisis as target aircraft for the searchlight arcs of the Royal Engineers.