Canadian Vickers Vedette
Canadian Vickers · Canada · first flew 1924 · transport aircraft
The Canadian Vickers Vedette was a small single-engine biplane flying boat produced in Canada from 1924, used extensively by the Royal Canadian Air Force for forest fire patrol, photographic survey, and general reconnaissance in the Canadian wilderness.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.01 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canadian biplane flying boat for bush reconnaissance
- Single pusher or tractor engine above hull
- RCAF forestry and survey flying boat
A small biplane with a boat hull, single engine mounted between or above the wings, and wing-tip floats. The modest size and biplane configuration distinguish it from larger Canadian flying boats of the era.
Specifications
- The Canadian Vickers Vedette has a length of 10.01 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 148 km/h (92 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed and built by Canadian Vickers in Montreal, the Vedette was purpose-built for Canadian bush flying conditions and served the RCAF from the mid-1920s through to the 1930s. It operated from the countless lakes and rivers of Canada's interior, performing the survey and patrol missions that characterised RCAF operations between the wars. Several variants were produced with different engines.
Variants
Multiple marks were built with different engines including the Wright Whirlwind and Lynx; the Vedette V was the most numerous variant.
Where you'll see it
Operated almost exclusively by the Royal Canadian Air Force on forestry patrol, survey, and search-and-rescue duties across Canada from 1924 to the late 1930s.
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