Vickers Vernon

Vernon
Vernon of 70 Squadron RAF, powered by Rolls-Royce Eagle engines.
Role	Transport
Manufacturer	Vickers
Introduction	1921
Retired	1927
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	55
Developed from	Vickers Vimy Commercial

The Vickers Vernon was a British biplane troop carrier^[1] used by the Royal Air Force. It was the first dedicated troop transport of the RAF, entering service in 1921.

The Vernon was a development of the Vickers Vimy Commercial, a passenger variant of the famous Vickers Vimy bomber, and was powered by twin Napier Lion engines or Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.^[1] 55 were built.

In February 1923, Vernons of Nos. 45 and 70 Squadrons RAF airlifted nearly 500 troops to Kirkuk, Iraq^[2] after the civilian area of that town had been overrun by Kurdish forces. This was the first-ever^[3] strategic airlift of troops.

Vernons of No. 45 Squadron had bomb racks and sights fitted.^[4] In May 1924 the squadron was officially designated No. 45 (Bombing) Sqdn.^[5]

Vernons were replaced by Vickers Victorias from 1927.

Variants

Vernon Mk I

Twin-engined military transport aircraft for the RAF.

Vernon Mk II

Powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Napier Lion II piston engines.

Vernon Mk III

Powered by two Napier Lion III piston engines.

Operators

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force
  • No. 45 Squadron RAF
  • No. 70 Squadron RAF

Specifications (Vernon)

Data from Aircraft of the Royal Air Force^[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: three
• Capacity: 11 passengers
• Length: 42 ft 8 in (13.01 m)
• Wingspan: 68 ft 1 in (20.76 m)
• Height: 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m)
• Wing area: 1,330 ft² (124 m²)
• Empty weight: 7,981 lb (3,628 kg)
• Loaded weight: 12,554 lb (5,706 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Napier Lion, 450 hp (336 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 87 kn (100 mph, 161 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 65 knots (75 mph, 121 km/h)
• Range: 278 nmi (320 mi,^[7] 515 km)
• Service ceiling: 11,700 ft^[7] (3,600 m)
• Wing loading: 9.44 lb/ft² (46.0 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.0717 hp/lb (0.118 kW/kg)

See also

Related development

• Vickers Vimy

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the RAF

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers Vernon.

1. 1 2 "Aircraft of the Royal Air Force Since 1918" Owen Thetford, Putnam & Co. Ltd. London 1962, p.443
2. ↑ Wragg, David Airlift A History of Military Air Transport Shrewsbury Airlife Publishing 1986 ISBN 0-906393-61-2 p13
3. ↑ Johnson, Brian & Cozens, H. I. Bombers The Weapon of Total War London Methuen 1984 ISBN 0-423-00630-4 p.38
4. ↑ Mission Completed, Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry, White Lion Publishers Limited, London 1976, ISBN 0-7274-0260-9, p.34
5. ↑ "Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft" Philip Moyes, MacDonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd, London 1964, p.67
6. ↑ Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57 (1st ed.). London: Putnam. 
7. 1 2 Andrews, E.N.; Morgan, E.B. (1988). Vickers Aircraft Since 1908 (Second ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 76–104. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.