The Vickers Viking VC.1 Viking was an early postwar twin-engined passenger aircraft designed and built by Vickers and intended mainly for the short European routes. In order to expedite production, the design used the wing and undercarriage of the Vickers Wellington, with only the fuselage being different. Some 163 Vikings were built and the type enjoyed service with a large number of airlines. Developments of the Viking later entered service with the R.A.F. as the Vickers Valetta troop transport and the Vickers Varsity crew trainer.
The Viking and Biggles[]
- Biggles Follows On - the Viking was the most likely type of aircraft used by Ross and Ginger for their outward trip from London to Paris. In the 1950s, British European Airways operated hourly services from London Northolt Airport to Paris using the Viking. From April 1950, B.E.A. also flew twice a day from the newly opened Heathrow Airport. From July to August 1950, B.E.A. also pioneered 36 London-Paris flights with a borrowed Vickers Viscount. But the vast majority of Paris-bound flights were from Northolt on Vikings.[1]
- Biggles and the Plane That Disappeared - a Viking conveyed Gaskin, Sergeant Smith and a constable from London to Lysett to support Biggles in his investigations into "Snifty" Chandler.
Specifications[]
- Crew: Two pilots
- Capacity: 36 passengers
- Length: 19.86 m
- Wingspan: 27.20 m
- Empty weight: 10,430 kg
- Max. takeoff weight: 15,420 kg
- Engines: 2 × Bristol Hercules 634 14-cylinder two-row radial engine, 1,690 hp each
- Maximum speed: 423 km/h
- Cruise speed: 338 km/h
- Range: 2,740 km
References[]
- ↑ Charles Woodley, The History of British European Airways, (Barnsley, Pen & Sword, 2006), 21.