Vickers Type 207
| Company type | Prototype aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Products | Torpedo bomber aircraft |
The Vickers Type 207 was a two-seat, single-engine biplane crafted in the early 1930s as a carrier-capable torpedo bomber. Despite its advanced structural design, only one unit was ever constructed.
Development
Commonly referred to as the Vickers M.1/30, the Type 207 was developed in response to an Air Ministry specification seeking a shipborne torpedo bomber to succeed the Blackburn Ripon. Vickers received funding from the Air Ministry for a sole prototype. Its rivals included the Blackburn M.1/30 and the Handley Page H.P.46.
Vickers, like Blackburn, selected the Rolls-Royce H10 engine—later known as the Buzzard IIIMS—an 825 hp (615 kW) liquid-cooled V-12 powerplant for propulsion. The aircraft featured a single-bay biplane configuration with wings of nearly equal span, lacking both sweep and stagger. The upper wing incorporated Leading edge slot Handley Page slots and ailerons of the Frise type; dihedral was present only on the lower wing. Both wings employed the relatively thick Raf34 airfoil profile, which remained innovative at that time, and were designed to fold for storage purposes. The rudder was balanced, while the braced tailplane had aerodynamic servo-assisted elevators controlled through trailing edge tabs. Newly appointed chief structural engineer Barnes Wallis introduced advanced duralumin construction techniques into both the wings and fuselage, drawing from his prior airship experience. These structures were typically intricate yet lightweight. The entire airframe was covered with fabric.
The upper wing was mounted well above the fuselage and supported by two pairs of V-shaped struts on each side; each lower wing was braced by two single struts originating from corresponding points on the upper fuselage. The pilot's cockpit was situated beneath the leading edge of the upper wing, with the observer positioned further aft and armed with a Lewis gun. The undercarriage featured a split-axle design to facilitate torpedo release beneath the aircraft and included wheel brakes appropriate for its naval role, along with an arrestor hook and tailwheel assembly. The Buzzard engine's radiator was mounted beneath the forward undercarriage legs.
The Type 207's maiden flight occurred on 11 January 1933, piloted by Mutt Summers. The main alteration following initial testing was adding two degrees of dihedral to what had been a flat upper wing. Unfortunately, during a high-speed dive test on 23 November 1933, structural failure originated from a tailplane collapse, causing the aircraft to break up; however, both crew members survived. Ultimately, none of the M.1/30 competitors received production orders.
Specifications
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Andrews, CF; Morgan, E.B. (1988). Vickers Aircraft since 1908 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
- Mason, Francis K. (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.