Vickers Vildebeest

 

The Vickers Aviation Vildebeest was developed to meet the requirements of Specification 25/25 which called for a Coastal Defence aircraft, capable of day bombing and torpedo operations. A single prototype (N230) was built as the Type 132, powered by a 460 hp Bristol Jupiter VIII engine and flew for the first time at Brooklands in April 1928.

 

The Vickers Vildebeest was a large single-bay biplane with unstaggered wings of rectangular planform. The pilot was located well-forward under the leading edge of the upper wing, with a gunner’s cockpit aft of the wing trailing edge whilst Handley Page automatic slats were fitted ahead of the ailerons on the upper wing.

 

The Vickers Vildebeest prototype was sent for trials at  Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) in September 1928, where it was found to have excellent handling and was recommended for production. It did however, suffer from engine overheating and vibration and consequently Vickers Aviation decided to build a second prototype, initially powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIA engine.

 

This aircraft (O-1) also encountered similar problems with engine cooling but it was retained as a company demonstrator.

 

 

Having been selected for production, the search for a satisfactory powerplant continued with the prototype (recorded as a Type 214 and now registered G-ABGE for display and demonstration purposes) being tested with a Jupiter XF engine, with a Townend ring and then later with a 600hp Jupiter XFBM engine.

 

This latter engine, which used a mineral oil lubricant, proved to be the solution to the previous cooling and vibration issues.

 

 

In 1930, the prototype was re-engined yet again with a 600hp water-cooled Hispano Suiza 12Lbr engine, carrying the registration marking O-3 and designated Type 216.

 

The aircraft was tested on floats made by Supermarine and it was demonstrated to the Spanish Authorities at Hythe in Kent. This resulted in it being selected for the Spanish Republican Navy and a licence was negotiated for the production of 25 aircraft (T1 – T25) by CASA in Spain. The Hispano-Suiza powered variant was given the Vickers designation of Vickers Type 216, although it was also known as the Vickers Vildebeest Series VII. The Spanish-built aircraft were designated Vickers Type 245, Series IX.

 

 

In 1932, the Spanish decided to purchase the original prototype. It was initially flown with an incorrect registration (EC-WLL) but this was later corrected (to EC-WII). One further aircraft was built in Spain, made up from parts supplied from Weybridge.

 

 

The first production batch of nine Vickers Vildebeest Mk I aircraft for the RAF were ordered in 1931, to Specification 22/31 and using an engine now designated the Pegasus IM3.

 

The first production aircraft (S1707) was flown for the first time on 5th September 1932, and a second batch of 13 Vickers Vildebeest MkIs followed (K2810 to K2822).

 

One aircraft (S1714) was modified to become the prototype Vickers Vincent general purpose biplane, which is described separately elsewhere on this website

 

 

Next to enter RAF service were 30 Vickers Vildebeest Mk II (K2916 to K2945), fitted with the 635hp Pegasus IIM3 engine. These aircraft were delivered to 100 Sqn from July 1933, this being the only Squadron that operated this version.

 

From December 1933, 100Sqn were based in Singapore, later receiving Vickers Vildebeest Mk IIIs to replace their Mk IIs.

 

 

One Vildebeest II was converted to compete in the Air Ministry TSR competition (Specifications S.9/30 and M.1/30).

 

This aircraft was modified with a 660hp Pegasus IIIM3 engine in a long chord cowling. It was first flown at Brooklands in 1933 (as O-7) before being given a civilian registration (G-ACYY) and designated by Vickers designation as the Type 252 Vildebeest Series XI.

 

 

The most widely used version was the Vildebeest Mk III and introduced a third crew member in an enlarged rear cockpit.

 

A total of 162 Vildebeest Mk III were built, 12 of which had folding wings and were supplied to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In due course, a further 28 aircraft which were surplus to RAF requirements, were also transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

 

 

The final RAF model, of which only 18 were built was the Vickers Vildebeest Mk IV. These were fitted with an 825hp Bristol Perseus VIII in a long-chord cowling, driving a variable pitch propeller.

 

These aircraft were delivered during 1937, serving with 22 Sqn and 42 Sqn in the UK.

 

 

Singapore-based aircraft took part in combat operations following the Japanese invasion of Malaya although they suffered considerable losses. By February 1942, the ten surviving aircraft withdrew to Java, from which a successful torpedo attack on a Japanese convoy was made on 28th February.

 

The final two aircraft sought to escape to Burma on 6th March but both were lost following crashes in Sumatra.