Vickers Vernon

Vickers Vernon

Company type	Military aircraft
Industry	Aviation
Predecessor	Vickers Vimy Commercial
Founded	1921
Products	Military transport aircraft
Parent	Vickers

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File:Vickers Vernon on ground.jpg

The Vickers Vernon was a British biplane designed specifically as a troop transport for the Royal Air Force. It was introduced in 1921, marking the RAF's first aircraft dedicated solely to troop carrying.

This model evolved from the Vickers Vimy Commercial, which itself was a passenger adaptation of the renowned Vickers Vimy bomber. The Vernon was powered by a pair of either Napier Lion or Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines. A total of 55 units were manufactured.

In February 1923, aircraft from Nos. 45 and 70 Squadrons RAF transported close to 500 soldiers to Kirkuk, Iraq, following Kurdish forces' occupation of the civilian sector of the town. This operation represented the inaugural strategic airlift of troops.

No. 45 Squadron's Vernons were equipped with bomb racks and aiming sights. Subsequently, in May 1924, this squadron received the official designation No. 45 (Bombing) Squadron.

By 1927, the Vernon was phased out and succeeded by the Vickers Victoria.

Variants

Vernon Mk I

Transport variant powered by two 360 hp (270 kW) V-12 Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII piston engines.

Vernon Mk II

Transport version featuring two 450 hp (340 kW) W-12 Napier Lion II piston engines.

Vernon Mk III

Transport aircraft equipped with two high-compression 525 hp (391 kW) W-12 Napier Lion III piston engines.

Operators

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• Royal Air Force
  • No. 45 Squadron RAF
  • No. 70 Squadron RAF