Vickers Wellesley

Vickers-Armstrongs · United Kingdom · first flew 1935 · bomber

The Vickers Wellesley was the first RAF aircraft to use Barnes Wallis's geodetic construction method, which combined great structural strength with light weight. Its long, slender wing gave exceptional range, enabling record-breaking long-distance flights.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.96 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

1930s RAF geodetic-construction single-engine bomber
Long slender high-aspect-ratio wing
Pegasus radial in NACA cowling with underwing panniers for bombs

The extremely long straight wing relative to the fuselage length is the primary recognition feature. Bombs are carried in external underwing panniers rather than an internal bomb bay, and the Pegasus engine sits in a clean NACA cowling.

Specifications

The Vickers Wellesley has a length of 11.96 m (39 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.73 m (75 ft).
Its maximum speed is 368 km/h (229 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Entering RAF service in 1937, the Wellesley served in Egypt, East Africa, and Aden. In November 1938 three Wellesleys set a world long-distance record by flying non-stop from Egypt to Australia, a distance of over 11,500 km.

Variants

The Mk I was the standard single-seat bomber; the Mk II had an enclosed rather than open cockpit. Both carried bombs in panniers beneath the wing to keep the geodetic structure intact.

Where you'll see it

The Wellesley served with RAF squadrons in the Middle East and East Africa, seeing action during the early years of World War II against Italian forces in Abyssinia and Eritrea.

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