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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0321.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 8, 1932 VIckers "Vildebeest" TORPEDOPLANE This machine, which can be used for a variety of purposes, is dealt with below mainly in its torpedoplane form IN view of the fact that the Vickers " Vildebeest " was described and illustrated in FLIGHT of November 6, 1931, it is not thought necessary to describe in the following article the general structural peculiarities of the machine, but rather to devote the available space to those features^ which are characteristic of it in its capacity of a torpedoplane. description that the " Vildebeest " can be used for torpedo dropping, day or night bombing, and reconnaissance. Moreover, the machine is supplied as an ordinary landplane and as a twin-float seaplane, while a variety of engines can be fitted to suit pur chasers' requirements. The main characteristics of the " Vildebeest " are given in the table on this page. From these it will be seen that the machine has a very good perform ance when fitted with the Hispano Suiza 12 Lbr. engine, which develops a normal maximum of 595 b.h.p. at 2,000 r.p.m. This engine is of the geared type, the gear ratio being 0.5 : 1, and the compression ratio is 6 to 1. It is a feature of most Vickers machines that the ratio of gross weight to tare weight is high ; in other words that the struc tural efficiency is good. In the case of the Vickers " Vildebeest " seaplane this ratio is no less than 1.735, so that the machine carries as disposable load 73.5 per cent, of its own weight. It was pointed out in the previous ever functions VICKERS 'VILDEBEEST" TORPEDOPLANE 595 h.p. Hispano-Suiza 12-Lbr. Engine Dimensions Length o.a. Height o.a. Wing span (upper and lower) Wing area Weights Weight of machine bare Crew, fuel and military load Gross weight . . Loading ft. in. 40 0 16 3 49 0 m. 12,20 4,96 14,94 728 sq. ft. (67.7 m.2) lb. 5,100 4,000 9,100 kg. 2 320 1 820 4 140 Wing loading Power loading Altitude ft. 0 3,280 4,920 6,560 9,840 11! 0 1 000 1 500 2 000 3 000 . 12-5 lb./sq. ft. (61 15-3 lb./h.p. (6,95 Performance 2 kg./m.«) kg./CV) Max. Speed Time of Climb m.p.h. km./hr. 132-5 213,5 127-5 205 124-0 200 120-0 193 107-0 172 Minutes — 6-5 11-0 17-0 43-0 Initial rate of climb Absolute ceiling Landing speed Cruising speed at 6,560 ft. (2 000 m.) Fuel consumption 600 ft./min. (3,05 m./sec.) 11,000 ft. (3 350 m.) 61-5 m.p.h. (99 km./hr.) 106 m.p.h. (170 km./hr.) 206 lb. /hr. (94 kg./hr.) This figure is based on a tare weight of 5,240 lb., which includes 140 lb. of fixed equipment of a character always fitted what- the machine is desired to perform. Included in this fixed equipment are the following items: Pilot's instruments, safety belt, gunner's harness, belt feed gun mounting, ammunition boxes, drum-feed gun sight, Scarff ring, drum pegs, observer's instru ments, fire extinguishers, electrical equipment, Very pistols and cartridges, bomb gear and torpedo release. Thus it will be seen that the tare weight upon which the gross to tare weight ratio is based is not by any means a '' stripped '' figure. If one subtracts this fixed equipment the bare stripped weight of the machine becomes 5,100 lb., and the ratio gross to bare weight becomes 1.78. Certain removable equip ment amounts to another 240 lb., which gives a normally equipped weight of 5,480 lb. In addition to this the machine can carry, when used as a torpedoplane, a disposable load of 3,620 lb. (1 635 kg.), composed of the following items: Pilot and observer, 352 lb. (160 kg.) ; W.T. equipment, 100 lb. (45 kg.): intercommunication set, ; torpedo suspension and re lease gear, 86 lb. (39 kg.); torpedo up to 2,020 lb. (909 kg.) ; petrol (124 gallons = 434 litres), 955 lb. (434 kg.) ; oil (8 gallons=36 litres), 100 lb. (45 kg.). With this disposable load the total all-up weight is 9,100 lb. (4 140 kg.). The normal petrol capacity of 124 gallons is contained in two main tanks of 62 gallons (282 litres) each. If the machine is required for greater range, an auxiliary petrol tank of 60 gallons (273 litres) capacity can be fitted, a corresponding weight of military load being, of course sacrificed to keep the machine within its gross weight of 9,100 lb. With normal petrol tankage the duration is 4.6 hr. at a cruising speed of 106 m.p.h. at a height of 6,560 ft., or a still-air AS A SEAPLANE: The "Vildebeest" in full flight. The upper photograph shows the machine as a landplane, with the torpedo in place. 7 lb. (5 kg. 297
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