Vickers Virginia
Vickers Limited · United Kingdom · first flew 1922 · bomber
The Vickers Virginia was the standard RAF heavy night bomber of the 1920s, a large biplane that equipped Bomber Command through much of the interwar period. It was designed to provide Britain with a strategic bombing capability in the years following World War I.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.97 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1920s RAF heavy biplane bomber
- Twin Napier Lion engines between the wings
- Twin tail fins and rudders
A large biplane with equal-span wings supported by multiple sets of interplane struts, twin Lion engines mounted between the wings, and a distinctive twin-fin tail. The nose gunner's position protrudes ahead of the upper wing.
Specifications
- The Vickers Virginia has a length of 18.97 m (62 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 26.72 m (88 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 174 km/h (108 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1924, the Virginia equipped multiple RAF bomber squadrons and remained in frontline service until 1937. Several marks were produced, progressively improving range, bomb load, and defensive armament as experience accumulated.
Variants
Ten marks were produced, from Mk I through Mk X; later marks introduced Napier Lion engines in improved cowlings and revised defensive gun positions including a ventral 'dustbin' turret.
Where you'll see it
The Virginia served exclusively with the RAF, equipping units based in Britain and occasionally deployed to the Middle East. It was central to the RAF's strategic bomber doctrine of the 1920s.
Related aircraft
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