TheVickers Valentiawas a 1920s Britishflying boatdesigned during theFirst World War.
| Valentia | |
|---|---|
 Valentia (N126) at the Marine and Armament Experimental Establishment,Isle of Grain,April 1923.[1] | |
| General information | |
| Type | Flying boat |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Vickers-Armstrongs |
| Primary user | Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1921 |
| First flight | 5 Mar 1921 |
| Retired | 1924 |
History
editThree Valentia prototypes were built by theVickers Companyat theirBarrowworks (Walney Islandperhaps), having been ordered in May 1918 as a potential replacement for theFelixstowe F.5.The hull was built byS.E.Saundersworks atCowes.The first of the three (Serial Number N124) first flew on 5 March 1921, whenStanley Cockerellbegan test-flying it over theSolent.[2]N124 was damaged on landing in June 1921 and was dismantled, the second N125 forced landed on its delivery flight on 15 March 1922[3]The third flying boat N126 was delivered in 1923 and used for trials until it was withdrawn from use in November 1924.
The name was later re-used for atransport aircraft,theVickers Type 264 Valentia.
Specifications (Valentia)
edit
Data fromVickers Aircraft since 1908[4]
General characteristics
- Crew:5[5]
- Length:58 ft 0 in (17.68 m)
- Wingspan:112 ft 0 in (34.14 m)
- Empty weight:10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
- Gross weight:21,300 lb (9,662 kg)
- Powerplant:2 ×Rolls-Royce Condorwater-cooledV12 engine,650 hp (480 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed:105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
- Endurance:4 hr 30 min[6]
- Time to altitude:9.5 min to 6,000 ft (1,800 m)[5]
Armament
- Guns:Provision for two Lewis guns. Tested withCOW 37 mm gun[6]
See also
edit- Canadian Vickers–Felixstowe F-IIIbuilt for transatlantic attempt
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
edit
- ^Chorlton, Martyn, ed. (2012).Aeroplane Collectors' Archive: Golden Age of Flying-boats.Kelsey Publishing Group, Cudham, Kent. p. 89.ISBN978-1-907426-71-1.
- ^"Air Ministry's New Flying Boat",The Times,8 March 1921
- ^Wixey, Ken, "Flying Boats of the RAF: 1920s 'One-offs'",FlyPast No. 106, Stamford, Lincs., U.K., May 1990, page 68.
- ^Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.482.
- ^ab"The Vickers-Saunders flying boat" Valentia "".Flight.XIII(11): 191. 17 March 1921.
- ^abLondon 2003, pp.266–267.
- Andrews, C.F and Morgan, E.B.Vickers Aircraft since 1908.London:Putnam, 1988.ISBN0-85177-815-1.
- London, Peter.British Flying Boats.Stroud, UK:Sutton Publishing, 2003.ISBN0-7509-2695-3.