Vickers Valparaiso
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| Valparaiso | |
|---|---|
| Type | Light Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Vickers |
| Maiden flight | 1923 |
| Retired | 1936 |
| Primary users | Portugal Chile |
| Number built | 28 |
| Developed from | Vickers Vixen |
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.
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[edit] 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 [1]. 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 IIs and 4 Valparaiso Is. 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)[2].
[edit] 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 1936.[2]
A single Valparaiso I (actually the prototype), was sold by Vickers to Chile in 1924. 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.[2]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Operators
- Aeronáutica Militar (Portuguese Army Aviation)
[edit] Specifications (Valparaiso I)
Data from Vickers Aircraft Since 1908 [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.20 m)
- Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
- Wing area: 526 ft² (48.9 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,128 lb (1,422 kg)
- Loaded weight: 4,720 lb (2,145 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Napier Lion IA 12 cylinder water cooled W-block, 468 hp (349 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 118 knots (136 mph, 219 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
- Cruise speed: 96 knots (110 mph, 177 km/h[3])
- Range: 478 nm (550 mi, 886 km)
- Service ceiling 19,500 ft (5,950 m)
- Rate of climb: 951 ft/min [3] (4.8 m/s)
- Wing loading: 8.97 lb/ft² (43.9 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.099 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)
- 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
[edit] See also
Related development
[edit] References
- ^ Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- ^ a b c d Andrews, E.N.; Morgan, E.B. (1988). Vickers Aircraft Since 1908, Second edition, London: Putnam. ISBN 0 85177 815 1.
- ^ a b Vickers Valparaiso I (Portuguese). Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
[edit] External links
Vickers Valparaiso I e II (in Portuguese)
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