Vickers No 3 and No 4

Monoplane

The Vickers No.3 and No.4 Monoplanes, which appeared in late 1911 / early 1912, introduced further changes to the REP design that was the basis of the Vickers No.1 and No.2 Monoplanes.

 

The revised undercarriage and rudder of the first two monoplanes were retained, but the fuselage from the pilot’s cockpit forward was changed to be of rectangular cross-section. The wings were completely redesigned, changing to a rectangular planform of reduced span, with rounded wing tips, rather than tapered with square-cut tips.

 

The landing wires were supported by a much more robust ‘cabane’ structure which was designed to protect the pilot, should the aircraft turn over on landing. The fuselage structure was also changed with the brazed joints used by Vickers Monoplanes No.1 and No.2, being replaced by welded and bolted fixtures.

 

No photographs have been found of No.4, which is believed to have been externally very similar to No.3.

 

One source suggests that it was not used at the Vickers’ School at Brooklands and might have been delivered directly to Captain Sykes for him to take part in the March 1912 Mortimer-Singer competition, where it was damaged on landing on 31st March 1912.

 

A second source suggests that Vickers Monoplane No.4 was designed with a much higher safety factor and was found too heavy to fly, being relegated to a ground trainer role to give pupils experience of engine control and taxying only.