Canadian Warplanes 1: Vickers Vimy

Vickers Vimy

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3391075)

The Vickers Vimy was a British heavy bomber aircraft developed and manufactured by Vickers Limited. The Vimy was developed during the latter stages of the First World War to equip the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Very few had entered service when the war ended on 11 Nov 1918, so the type was not used in active combat operations during the war. The Vimy became the core of the RAF's heavy bomber force throughout the 1920s. The Vimy achieved success as both a military and civil aircraft, the latter using the Vimy Commercial variant. A dedicated transport derivative of the Vimy, the Vickers Vernon became the first troop transport aircraft operated by the RAF.

During the interwar period, the Vimy set several records for long-distance flights, the most celebrated and significant of these being the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, performed by John Alcock and Arthur Brown in June 1919. Other record-breaking flights were made from the United Kingdom to destinations such as South Africa and Australia. The Vimy continued to be operated until the 1930s in both military and civil capacities. (Wikipedia)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3598271)

Vickers Vimy aircraft of Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown, Lester's Field, Newfoundland, June 1919.

As the First World War ended in 1918, a Handley Page V/1500 bomber named ‘Atlantic’ entered operational service. To participate in the first non-stop trans-Atlantic aviation race, the ‘Atlantic’ was packed in crates and left Liverpool, England, aboard a ship on 2 May 1919. Upon arrival in Newfoundland on 10 May, reassembly of the ‘Atlantic’ began under the supervision of Col. Ernest W. Stedman on an airfield prepared in Harbour Grace.

During the first trial flight on 10 June, the crew discovered an overheating problem and realized that new radiators would have to be installed.  While awaiting their arrival by ship from England, the trans-Atlantic aviation race was won by British aviators, Capt John Alcock and Lt Arthur Whitten Brown, who made the crossing in the Vickers Vimy biplane.  The ‘Atlantic’ later crashed at Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, on 5 July 1919.  It was repaired and flew on to New York on 9 Oct 1919.

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