Vickers Vanox

infobox Aircraft
name = Vanox
type = Bomber
manufacturer = Vickers


caption =
designer =
first flight = 30 November 1929
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
program cost=
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Vickers Vanox was a British biplane bomber design intended as a successor to the Vickers Virginia for the Royal Air Force. Although it underwent extensive development, it was not successful, only a single aircraft being built.

Design and Development

Conceived as a biplane powered by the Bristol Jupiter radial engine it would have much better performance than the Virginia with similar engines. Initially a private venture, the submission of Vickers design to the Air Ministry coincided with the issuing of Air Ministry specification B.19/27 for a Virginia replacement.

The B.19/27 specification meant that the Vickers submission would be tested competitively in trials against other manufacturer's designs. In the redesign to meet the specification the B.19/27 project took the Virginia Mark X all moving rudder together with an all-moving tailplane. Three designs were submitted in total; two biplanes with Jupiter and geared Bristol Mercury engines respectively and a monoplane version. The Mercury engined design, the Vickers Type 150 was selected by the Ministry for consideration and building, now to be funded by the Ministry, started. Part way through it was agreed that an alternative engine was allowable, the Rolls-Royce F.XIV (later developed into the Rolls-Royce Kestrel).

The aircraft flew for the first time on 30 November 1929. The aircraft was a two bay biplane of all metal construction, with a biplane tailplane and with the two engines mounted between the wings.

Initial testing and evaluation showed that the aircraft had poor handling, being unstable laterally, prone to Dutch roll and to severe flexing of the rear fuselage.Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.259] Following an forced landing it was rebuilt incorporating recommendations made in reports from Ministry test pilots to try and resolve these problems, and was powered by Kestrel III engines. It was then given the name Vickers Vanox by Vickers.

These changes did not solve the aircraft's handling problems, and the sweepback of the wings was reduced, which resolved the handling problems. The Kestrel engines proved unreliable Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.261] , and were replaced by more powerful Bristol Pegasus radial engines. In this form, the aircraft was designated the Vickers Type 195 Vanox, and was demonstrated to meet the requirements of specification.

Following further modifications in February 1933 to improve performance, with extended, three bay wings being fitted, it was now designated the Type 255. However, by this time, the competing Handley Page Heyford and Fairey Hendon bombers had already been ordered into production, so the sole Type 255 was used for aerial refuelling trials work by the Royal Aircraft Establishment, being flown for the last time on 7 January 1938.

pecifications (Type 150)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=The British Bomber since 1914 Mason 1994, p. 211-212]

crew=4
capacity=
length main= 60 ft 6 in
length alt= 18.45 m
span main= 76 ft 6 in
span alt= 23.32 m
height main= 19 ft 3 in
height alt= 5.87 m
area main= 1,367 ft²
area alt= 127 m²
airfoil=RAF 34 Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.256]
empty weight main= 10,435 lb
empty weight alt= 4,743 kg
loaded weight main= 15,400 lb Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.271 ]
loaded weight alt= 7,000 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 16,170 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 7,350 kg
more general=

engine (prop)= Rolls Royce F.XIV
type of prop=V-12 piston engine
number of props=2
power main= 480 hp
power alt= 358 kW
power original=
max speed main= 125 mph
max speed alt= 109 knots, 201 km/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 920 mi
range alt= 800 NM, 1,481 km
ferry range main=
ferry range alt=
ferry range more=
ceiling main= 23,000 ft
ceiling alt= 7,000 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 11.3 lb/ft²
loading alt= 55.1 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.062 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.10 kW/kg
more performance=*Climb to 6,500 ft (1,980 m): 19 min 45 sec

guns= Two .303 in Lewis guns
bombs= Up to 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) of bombs
rockets=
missiles=
hardpoints=
hardpoint capacity=

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=Handley Page Heyford
Fairey Hendon

lists=

see also=

References

* Andrews, E.N.; Morgan, E.B. "Vickers Aircraft Since 1908", London: Putnam, Second Edition, 1988. ISBN 0 85177 815 1.
* Mason, Francis K. "The British Bomber since 1914". London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=633 British Aircraft Directory]