Handley Page Victor B.1
Handley Page · UK · first flew 1956 · bomber
The Victor B.1 was the initial production variant of Britain's third V-bomber, distinguished by its extraordinary crescent wing — a planform in which sweep angle and thickness/chord ratio reduce progressively from root to tip, giving the wing a visually curved leading edge.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbojet, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 34.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Crescent wing — the planform curves progressively, sweeping more steeply at the root than the tip; unique among V-bombers
- Short, straight engine nacelles flush in wing root — no external pods
- Original short fin without the extended fairing of the B.2; dorsal profile relatively low
The crescent wing with its curved leading edge is unmistakeable against the Vulcan's pure delta or the Valiant's more conventional sweep. The B.1 has a shorter, less deep fin than the B.2 and lacks the B.2's large dorsal fairing. Four engine nacelles buried in the wing roots with round intake faces are common to all Victors.
Specifications
- The Handley Page Victor B.1 has a length of 34.75 m (114 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33.53 m (110 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 912 km/h (567 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First operational B.1 delivered to 10 Squadron at Cottesmore in 1958. The B.1 served the nuclear deterrent role until the B.2 superseded it, after which many were converted to tanker and reconnaissance roles. Around 50 B.1s were built.
Variants
The B.1A added electronic countermeasures. The B.2 has a larger wing and more powerful Conway engines. The K.1/K.1A are tanker conversions.
Where you'll see it
RAF V-Force 1958-1968 in the bomber role; tanker/recce variants served much longer, with the last tanker Victors retiring in 1993 after Falklands and Gulf War service. XL231 is preserved at Brooklands Museum; XM715 at the RAF Museum Cosford.
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- Handley Page Herald
- Handley Page Victor
- Handley Page HP.115
- Handley Page Marathon
- Beriev Be-10
- Convair B-58 Hustler
- Myasishchev 3M Bison
- Tupolev Tu-98
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