Vickers Viking
Vickers-Armstrongs · United Kingdom · first flew 1945 · airliner
The Vickers Viking was a British twin-engine short-range airliner that entered service in 1946, becoming the first postwar airliner to operate with BEA and a key type in re-establishing British civil aviation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wellington-derived geodetic wing visible in fuselage join |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Bristol Hercules radial engines on low-wing British postwar airliner
- Wellington-derived geodetic wing visible in fuselage join
- Distinctive nose with angular windscreen
The twin radial engines in clean cowlings on a low wing, combined with the somewhat angular fuselage with curved windscreen frames and the Wellington-derived wing taper, give the Viking a unique silhouette among early postwar airliners.
Specifications
- The Vickers Viking has a length of 19.86 m (65 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 27.2 m (89 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 504 km/h (313 mph).
- Typical crew: 3 + up to 36 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the Wellington bomber's geodetic wing structure mated to a new pressurised fuselage, the Viking first flew in June 1945 and entered service with British European Airways in 1946. It served on European routes during the critical postwar rebuilding period.
Variants
The Viking 1 and 1A differed in minor equipment fits; the Viking 1B had increased passenger capacity; several were converted for VIP use including the King's Flight.
Where you'll see it
Operated primarily by BEA on European routes and by a number of other carriers; the King's Flight operated a Viking as the royal transport in the late 1940s, making it distinctly relevant to UK aviation history.
Related aircraft
- Vickers Viscount
- Vickers Viscount 700
- Vickers Valiant
- Vickers Wellesley
- Avro Tudor
- Ilyushin Il-12
- Short Sandringham
- Sud-Ouest SO.30 Bretagne
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.