Vickers VC.1 Viking explained

The Vickers VC.1 Viking is a British twin-engine short-range airliner derived from the Vickers Wellington bomber and built by Vickers-Armstrongs Limited at Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey. After the Second World War, the Viking was an important airliner with British airlines, pending the development of turboprop aircraft like the Viscount. An experimental airframe was fitted with Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets and first flown in 1948 as the world's first pure jet transport aircraft. Military developments were the Vickers Valetta and the Vickers Varsity.

Design and development

The Ministry of Aircraft Production ordered three prototype Wellington Transport Aircraft to Air Ministry Specification 17/44 from Vickers-Armstrongs Limited. The specification was for a peacetime requirement for an interim short-medium haul passenger aircraft to serve until the more advanced designs specified by the Brabazon Committee (in particular, the Airspeed Ambassador and Armstrong Whitworth Apollo) could be developed.[1] [2] To speed development the aircraft used the wing and undercarriage design from the Wellington but the fuselage was new.[3] Although the original contract referred to Wellington Transport Aircraft, on completion, the name Viking was chosen.[1]

The first prototype (designated the Type 491 and registered G-AGOK) was built by the Vickers Experimental Department at its wartime Foxwarren dispersal site and was first flown by 'Mutt' Summers at Wisley Airfield on 22 June 1945.[4] This aircraft crashed on 23 April 1946 due to a double engine failure; no fatalities occurred as a result of the crash.[5] Following successful trials of the three prototypes the Ministry of Aircraft Production ordered 50 aircraft.[6] The first BOAC aircraft flew on 23 March 1946. The prototypes were then used for trials with the Royal Air Force which led to orders for military versions (the Viking C2 (12 ordered as freighter/transports) and the modified Valetta C1).

The initial 19 production aircraft (later designated the Viking 1A) carried 21 passengers, they had metal fuselages and - except for the wing inboard of the nacelles - fabric-clad geodetic wings and tail units. Following feedback from customers, the next 14 examples, known as the Viking 1, featured stressed-metal wings and tail units. The next variant, the Viking 1B, was 28 in (71 cm) longer, carrying 24 passengers with up-rated Bristol Hercules piston engines, achieved a production run of 115. One of this batch was changed during production to so that it could be fitted with two Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engines, with its first flight on 6 April 1948.

On 25 July 1948, on the 39th anniversary of Blériot's crossing of the English Channel, the Type 618 Nene-Viking flew Heathrow–Paris (Villacoublay) in the morning carrying letters to Bleriot's widow and son (secretary of the FAI), who met it at the airport. The flight of took only 34 minutes. It then flew back to London in the afternoon. It obtained a maximum speed of 415mph at 12000feet and averaged 394mph.[7] In 1954 it was bought from the Ministry of Supply and underwent the substantial conversion to Hercules 634 piston engines by Eagle Aviation to join their fleet.[8]

Production finished in 1948, including 16 for the RAF of which four were for the King's Flight,[9] but in 1952 BEA adapted some to a 38-passenger layout, taking the maximum payload up from . All Vikings featured a tailwheel undercarriage.

The 58th Viking (c/n 158) became the prototype of the military Valetta, of which 262 were produced for the RAF. When production of this strengthened but externally similar type ended in 1952, a flying classroom version with tricycle undercarriage was already being delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF), called the Varsity.[10] All but one of those entered RAF service, the other example going to the Swedish Air Force. The production of 161 Varsities kept the Hurn works busy until January 1954, and they enjoyed a long service life. Examples are preserved at Brooklands Museum, the Imperial War Museum Duxford and the Newark Air Museum.

Operational history

The first Viking was flown from Vickers' flight test airfield at Wisley, Surrey, by chief test pilot Joseph "Mutt" Summers on 22 June 1945 and the third aircraft built was delivered to BOAC at Hurn near Bournemouth on 20 April 1946. Upon the delivery of nine examples to BOAC for development flying, including the two remaining prototypes, British European Airways (BEA) was established on 1 August 1946 to operate airliners within Europe and these first VC.1 Vikings were transferred to the new airline.[11]

After a trial flight from Northolt to Oslo on 20 August 1946 by the newly formed BEA, the first regular Viking scheduled service commenced between Northolt and Copenhagen Airport on 1 September 1946.[12]

In all 163 Vikings were built. The initials "VC" stood for Vickers Commercial,[13] echoing the "VC" precedent set by the earlier Vimy Commercial of 1919. Vickers soon ceased to use the 'VC' letters, instead using type numbers in the 49x and 600 series, which indicated the specific customer airline.

BEA operated their large fleet of Vikings on many European and UK trunk routes for eight years. From 1951, the remaining fleet was modified with 36, instead of 27 seats, and named the "Admiral Class". BEA operated the Viking until late 1954, when the last was displaced by the more modern and pressurised Airspeed Ambassador and Vickers Viscount.

BEA sold their Vikings to several UK independent airlines for use on their growing scheduled and charter route networks. Some were sold to other European operators. An ex-BEA Viking 1B was fitted out as a VIP aircraft for the Arab Legion Air Force, mainly for the use of the King of Jordan.[14] Most Vikings had been retired from service by the mid-1960s and there are now only six extant worldwide with two surviving examples in the UK, both being under long-term major restoration.

Variants

Viking
  • Prototypes with two 1,675 hp (1,250 kW) Bristol Hercules 130 engines, three built.
    Viking 1A
  • Initial production version with geodetic wings and two 1,690 hp (1,261 kW) Bristol Hercules 630 engines.
    Viking 1
  • Production aircraft with stressed skin mainplanes and two 1,690 hp (1,261 kW) Bristol Hercules 634 engines.
    Viking 1B
  • Viking 1 with "long nose", 113 built.
    Nene Viking
  • One Viking 1B aircraft modified for trials with two 5,000 lbf (22.3 kN) Rolls-Royce Nene I turbojets.
    Viking C2
  • British military designation of the Viking 1; VIP transport aircraft for the King's Flight of the RAF.
    Valetta C1 & C2
  • Modified design with strengthened floor and large freight door.
    Varsity T1
  • Highly modified Valetta design with tricycle undercarriage for navigation and crew training.

    Type numbers

    Type 491
  • First prototype[15]
    Type 495
  • Second prototype[15]
    Type 496
  • Third prototype[15]
    Type 498
  • Viking 1A for British European Airways.[15] Three later to Argentine Air Force.
    Type 604
  • Viking 1B for Indian National Airways with two Hercules 634 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 607
  • Valetta prototype for Ministry of Supply with two Hercules 230 engines.[16]
    Type 610
  • Viking 1B for British European Airways.[15]
    Type 613
  • Projected fuel transport variant, not built.
    Type 614
  • Viking 1 for British European Airways.[15]
    Type 615
  • Viking 1 for the Argentine government with two Hercules 634 engines.[16]
    Type 616
  • Viking 1 for Central African Airways.
    Type 618
  • Nene Viking for Ministry of Supply.[15]
    Type 620
  • Viking 1 for the Argentine government with two Hercules 630 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 621
  • Viking C2 for the Royal Air Force with two Hercules 130 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 623
  • Viking C2 for the Royal Air Force with two Hercules 134 engines. Two ordered for use by the King's Flight for a royal tour of South Africa, one aircraft for the King and one for the Queen.[17] [18]
    Type 624
  • Viking C2 for the Royal Air Force with two Hercules 134 engines. One ordered for use by the King's Flight for a royal tour of South Africa for use by the state officials in 21-seat configuration.[17]
    Type 626
  • Viking C2 for the Royal Air Force with two Hercules 134 engines. One ordered for use by the King's Flight for a royal tour of South Africa as a mobile workshop support aircraft.[17]
    Type 627
  • Viking 1B for Airwork Limited.[15]
    Type 628
  • Viking 1B for DDL with two Hercules 634 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 631
  • Projected 34-seat variant, not built.[15]
    Type 632
  • Viking 1B for Air India with two Hercules 634 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 634
  • Viking 1B for Aer Lingus with two Hercules 634 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 635
  • Viking 1B for South African Airways with two Hercules 634 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 636
  • Viking 1B demonstrator.[15]
    Type 637
  • Valletta C1 for the Royal Air Force with two Hercules 230 engines.[16]
    Type 639
  • Viking 1 for Hunting Air Transport.[15] [16]
    Type 641
  • Viking 1 for Suidair International
    Type 643
  • Viking 1 for Suidair International with two Hercules 630 engines.[15] [16]
    Type 644
  • Viking 1B for Iraqi Airways.[15] [16]
    Type 649
  • Viking 1B for Pakistan Air Force with two Hercules 634 engines.[15] [19]
    Type 651
  • Valetta C1 for the Royal Air Force with two Hercules 634 engines.[19]
    Type 657
  • Viking 1A conversions from Type 498 for BSAAC.[19]

    Operators

    Civil operators

    (Portuguese India)
    South Africa

    Military operators

    Accidents and incidents

    See main article: List of accidents and incidents involving the Vickers VC.1 Viking. Of the 163 aircraft built 56 aircraft were lost in accidents – the following were some notable accidents:

    Aircraft on display

    Of the 163 Vikings produced, only six survive today; five can be found in museums around the world, while a sixth airframe was stored at an airfield near Vienna in Austria until dismantled in late April 2023. Acquired by the Blackbushe Heritage Trust and is returning to the UK in early May for restoration and display at Blackbushe Airport in Surrey.

    Argentina
    Pakistan
    Switzerland
    South Africa
    United Kingdom

    References

    Notes
    Bibliography

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Andrews and Morgan 1988, pp. 396–398.
    2. Taylor 1983, pp. 38–39.
    3. Jackson 1988, p. 215.
    4. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 398.
    5. Web site: Ranter . Harro . ASN Aircraft accident Vickers 491 Viking 1A G-AGOK Effingham . 2022-09-21 . aviation-safety.net.
    6. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 402.
    7. First Jet Transport . . 29 July 1948 . LIV . 2066 . 134 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140114010952/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1948/1948%20-%201180.html . 14 January 2014 . dmy-all .
    8. Civil Aviation: From Jets to Pistons . . 17 September 1954 . 66 . 2382 . 464 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140114011000/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202675.html . 14 January 2014 . dmy-all .
    9. Owen Thetford 'Aircraft of the Royal Air Force' 1988 8th Ed, p. 649.
    10. Green and Pollinger 1955, p. 184.
    11. Taylor 1983, p. 39.
    12. Chorlton Aeroplane Monthly Winter 2013, p. 81.
    13. Flight 24 May 1945
    14. Martin 1975, p. 26.
    15. Taylor 1983, p. 42.
    16. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 501.
    17. Andrews and Morgan 1988, pp. 405, 501.
    18. Taylor 1983, p. 44.
    19. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 502.
    20. Web site: Aviameer Airlines . Airline History . 8 November 2021.
    21. Taylor 1983, p. 48.
    22. http://www.gacetaeronautica.com/gaceta/wp-102/?p=2199 The Illustrated Catalogue to Argentine Air Force Aircraft, Gaceta Aeronautica, 2013
    23. https://aerospotter.blogspot.com/2011/06/la-corta-vida-de-un-viking.html La corta vida de un Viking, Roll Out website, 2011
    24. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Vickers Viking 1B, s/n T-9 ARA, c/n 163, c/r LV-XET. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 6 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425160331/http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=43581. 25 April 2018. dmy-all.
    25. Web site: THE QUAID'S AIRCRAFT. Pakistan Air Force Museum. Pakistan Air Force Museum. 6 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170515145120/http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/attractions/the-quaid-s-aircraft. 15 May 2017. dmy-all.
    26. Web site: Das Projekt "Save-a-Viking". Save-a-Viking. 6 June 2017. de. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170330094236/http://www.save-a-viking.org/de/projekt.html. 30 March 2017. dmy-all.
    27. Web site: Der Unfall der "G-AIVG". Save-a-Viking. 6 June 2017. de. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20081120180143/http://www.save-a-viking.org/de/unfall.html. 20 November 2008. dmy-all.
    28. Web site: Was im Jahr 2010 bei "Save-a-Viking" geschah. Save-a-Viking. 6 June 2017. de. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425160332/https://www.save-a-viking.org/de/projekt2010.html. 25 April 2018. dmy-all.
    29. Web site: Vickers Viking VC.1A. SAA Museum Society. 6 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425160332/http://www.saamuseum.co.za/index.php?id=74. 25 April 2018. dmy-all.
    30. Web site: Vickers 498 Viking 1A. Brooklands Museum. Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd. 6 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171003185316/https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/our-collection/aircraft/viking. 3 October 2017. dmy-all.

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vickers VC.1 Viking".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.