Vickers Type 637
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defence |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom , United Kingdom |
| Products | Military transport aircraft (including Vickers Valetta) |
The Vickers Valetta represents a twin-engine military transport aircraft engineered and constructed by the British firm Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. It was adapted from the compact civilian airliner, the Vickers VC.1 Viking, featuring an all-metal mid-wing design with a traditional tailwheel undercarriage.
Development of the Valetta began in the immediate post-World War II period, driven by the Royal Air Force's (RAF) demand for a military transport version of the Viking. The aircraft was required to swiftly switch between multiple roles such as troop transport, air ambulance, cargo carrier, glider tug, and paratrooper deployment. To support these functions, its interior fittings were designed for rapid removal and replacement with alternative configurations. Enhancements over the Viking included more powerful Bristol Hercules 230 radial engines, a reinforced cabin floor, and a sturdier landing gear assembly.
After completing its initial flight on 30 June 1947, the Valetta entered RAF service the following year. It quickly became a core asset within Transport Command and saw active participation in British military engagements throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including operations during the Suez Crisis, Aden, and Malayan Emergency. The aircraft was further developed into several variants, encompassing VIP transport and various training versions. Notably, it served as the foundation for the Vickers Varsity, a specialised military trainer aircraft.
Background
The Valetta's origins are closely linked to its predecessor, the Vickers VC.1 Viking, a civilian airliner itself derived from the Second World War-era Vickers Wellington medium bomber. Towards the end of the Viking's development phase, it underwent thorough assessments by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Several RAF officials expressed interest in acquiring a dedicated military transport variant based on this design to replenish Transport Command’s fleet, replacing numerous aging wartime transport aircraft.
This interest led the Air Ministry to formalise requirements through Specification C.9/46, which explicitly targeted Vickers’ design. Aviation historian C. F. Andrews noted that this specification was notably progressive for its time, mandating that the aircraft be rapidly adaptable to roles including troop transportation, medical evacuation, cargo hauling, glider towing, and dropping both supplies and paratroopers.
Into flight
The initial Valetta prototype, originally constructed as a standard Viking (c/n 158), reached completion in early 1947. On 30 June 1947, this prototype undertook the aircraft type’s maiden flight from Brooklands, with Vickers' test pilot Mutt Summers at the controls.
Although the aircraft was named after Malta’s capital city Valletta, its name is uniquely spelled with a single "l". The Valetta and its predecessor, the Viking, served as the foundation for the development of the Varsity. While bearing similarities, the Varsity was somewhat larger and featured a tricycle undercarriage configuration along with a distinctive under-fuselage pannier designed to house a bomb-aimer and carry up to 24 practice bombs.
Design
The Vickers Valetta was a twin-engine military transport aircraft distinguished primarily by several enhancements over the Viking. Key modifications included more robust engines, a reinforced cabin floor, and large, strengthened double-doors on the fuselage’s side to facilitate cargo loading and unloading. The upgrade to more powerful engines was essential due to an approximate 2,000 lb increase in maximum takeoff weight compared to the Viking. The powerplants selected were two Bristol Hercules 230 radial engines, each delivering up to 2,000 hp.
To optimize its role as a transport aircraft, the Valetta’s interior was engineered to handle military cargoes of various sizes, including bulky items. The cabin floor was constructed to withstand concentrated loads of up to 1,500 lb at any single point and was fitted with multiple securing points for cargo restraint. Additionally, many internal fittings were designed for rapid removal, allowing swift conversion between different mission profiles. These included various seating arrangements, a loading winch, vehicle ramps, floor rollers, glider-towing equipment, supplementary fuel tanks, and sidewall soundproofing enhancements. In troop transport configuration, the aircraft could accommodate up to 34 fully equipped soldiers; alternatively, it could carry 20 stretcher-bound patients alongside two medical attendants in an air ambulance setup. The paratroop layout allowed for up to 20 paratroopers plus nine air-droppable supply containers weighing 350 lb each.
Externally, the Valetta featured several adaptations for payload handling, such as twin racks beneath the center fuselage capable of carrying supply containers. For glider towing operations, a pyramid-shaped structure was installed on the rear fuselage serving both as an attachment point and release mechanism. Optional flexible bag tanks were available to extend operational range. To support anticipated heavier payloads and endure more demanding landings than those experienced by the Viking, the aircraft’s undercarriage was substantially reinforced.
Operational history
The Valetta C.1 was introduced into RAF service in 1948. Its widespread deployment swiftly led to the replacement of the wartime Douglas Dakota aircraft within RAF Transport Command, including numerous transport squadrons based across the Middle East and Far East. The Valetta actively operated in conflict zones, notably executing multiple parachute drops over Egypt during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, it frequently served in a transport role supporting various British military campaigns, such as the Malayan Emergency and operations in Aden.
While most Valettas were produced to the C.1 specification, several specialized versions were also introduced. The Valetta C.2 served as a dedicated VIP transport, maintaining similar performance characteristics but featuring enhanced range capabilities.
The Valetta T.3 variant was designed as a navigational trainer for use by the RAF College at RAF Cranwell and No.1 and No.2 Air Navigation Schools. This model is identifiable by multiple astrodomes installed along the fuselage roof. A total of 40 T.3 aircraft were delivered between August 1951 and September 1952, with the final unit being WJ487. Subsequently, 18 of these were converted into the T.4 standard, which incorporated an enlarged nose housing a radar system to facilitate training in aircraft interception (AI) radar operations.
A number of Valettas underwent modifications as part of experimental programs conducted by Vickers. Various alternative landing gear configurations were tested, although these changes reportedly had minimal impact on ground handling compared to the original design.
Variants
- Valetta C.1 - designed for transport duties, with a total of 211 units produced
- Valetta C.2 - configured for VIP transport, 11 units manufactured
- Valetta T.3 - utilized as an aircrew trainer, 40 aircraft built
- Valetta T.4 - modified from the T.3 model, equipped with a nose-mounted radar system
Operators
Accidents and incidents
- On 18 February 1951, an RAF Valetta was compelled to perform a belly landing near Stockholm-Bromma Airport due to engine failure on one side combined with radio malfunctions. The situation was worsened by airframe icing. Out of 22 passengers and crew, one fatality occurred. The aircraft was completely destroyed.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
- On 15 January 1953, Valetta C.1 VX562 collided mid-air over the Mediterranean Sea with an RAF Lancaster, resulting in the deaths of all 19 individuals aboard the Valetta and seven crew members on the Lancaster.[1]
- VX490 vanished on 11 November 1953 during an air test flight after departing from RAF Changi. All seven occupants perished, with the likely cause being structural failure within a thunderstorm.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
- On 6 January 1954, Valetta T.3 WJ474 crashed near Aldbury, Hertfordshire, shortly after taking off from RAF Bovingdon under adverse weather conditions. The aircraft was transporting a rugby team; 17 people lost their lives while one survived.[2][3]
- On 21 February 1954, Valetta C.1 WJ494, inbound from Hong Kong, crashed approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from RAF Changi in Singapore during a single-engine approach. It was reported that the pilot mistakenly feathered the wrong engine, causing loss of altitude and collision with trees, followed by a fire; three of the twelve occupants died.[4]
- Valetta C.1 VW832 crashed at Queria, Jordan on 17 April 1957, five minutes after departing from King Hussein International Airport. The left wing detached after encountering turbulence, resulting in the deaths of all 26 people on board.[5]
- On 22 August 1957, RAF Valetta VX491 'Y' went down in dense jungle near Tanjong Malim, Malaya. Three RAF crew members were killed while four servicemen from 55 Coy RASC AD survived and were rescued. Engine failure is considered a probable cause.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Aircraft on display
- VX573 – A Valetta C.2 currently held in storage at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, located in Cosford, Shropshire.[6]Template:Fix/category[better source needed]
- VX580 – This Valetta C.2 is exhibited statically at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum situated in Flixton, Suffolk.[7][8]
- A cockpit from a Valetta T.3 is on display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster. Although its precise identity is unconfirmed, it is believed to be from WJ476.
Specifications (Vickers Valetta C.1)
Notable appearances in media
The Vickers Valetta T3 features prominently in an extended sequence of the 1957 movie High Flight, where it serves as an airborne navigation classroom at RAF College Cranwell.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
See also
Citations
- ↑ "Accident Description: Valetta C1." aviation-safety.net.
- ↑ "Accident Description: Valetta T3." aviation-safety.net.
- ↑ Service Aviation Flight 15 January 1954
- ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident Vickers Valetta C.1 WJ494 Singapore-Changi RAF Station" aviation-safety.net.
- ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident Vickers Valetta C.1 VW832 Queria" aviation-safety.net.
- ↑ "Vickers Viking/Valetta/Varsity". Oldprops. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ↑ "OUR AIRCRAFT". Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ↑ "Valetting the Valetta". Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
Bibliography
- Andrews, C.F. Vickers Aircraft Since 1908. London: Putnam, 1969.
- Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
- Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd, 1951.
- Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Martin, Bernard. The Viking, Valetta and Varsity. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. 1975. ISBN 0-85130-038-3.
- Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.
- Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57. London: Putnam, 1st edition, 1957.
External links
- Newest RAF Transport Flight 1947
Template:Vickers aircraft Template:ADF aircraft designations