| Vendace | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Trainer |
| Manufacturer | Vickers |
| Primary user | Bolivia |
| Number built | 5 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1928 |
| First flight | 1926 |
| Retired | 1933 |
TheVickers Vendace was a 1920sBritishtrainer aircraft. It was originally designed as afloatplane trainer for theRoyal Air Force.
In October 1924, the BritishAir Ministry issuedSpecification 5A/24 for a floatplane trainer. To meet this requirement,Vickers designed a two-seatbiplane, the Vickers Type 120 Vendace I. In August 1925, the Air Ministry placed an order for a single prototype, in addition to competing aircraft fromParnall andBlackburn, (theParnall Perch andBlackburn Sprat).[1][2]
The Vendace I was a two-bay biplane withfolding wooden wings and a steel tubefuselage, powered by aRolls-Royce Falcon engine. Itsundercarriage could be changed from floats to wheels in ten minutes, while its fuel supply was held in two streamlined tanks above the upper wing.[1]
The first Vendace first flew at Brooklands by March 1926, and then underwent successful trials as a landplane, including operation from theaircraft carrierHMS Furious.[3] In 1927, these were followed by testing in seaplane configuration at theMarine Aircraft Experimental Establishment,Felixstowe.[4] The trials were successful, with the Vendace being selected to meet the RAF's needs. The requirement was soon cancelled as a cost saving measure, although the RAF did retain the aircraft for experimental purposes.[4][5]
Vickers built a second aircraft, the Type 157 Vendace II, as a private venture, with anADC Nimbus (an inline six-cylinder engine derived from theSiddeley Puma) that replaced the Falcon of the Vendace I. It first flew in November 1927, and was sold to theAircraft Operating Company for survey operations inSouth America.[6][7]
Development continued with the Type 155 Vendace III powered by a 300 hp (220 kW)Hispano-Suiza 8F, and three were sold toBolivia for use as trainers,[8] at a cost of£ 9,997 for the three aircraft.[9]
In July 1929,[9] the three Bolivian Vendaces entered service with the Escuela Militar de Aviación.[10] While the Vendaces maintained good performance at the high altitude of Bolivia's training airfield atLa Paz, they experienced engine problems, blamed on dusty conditions in the Bolivian summer, resulting in the aircraft being grounded several times while waiting for spare parts for the engines to be delivered from France.[11][12] Two Vendaces were listed as still being in service in 1933, with one being used as a communications aircraft during theChaco War before being destroyed by Bolivian forces during a retreat in December 1933.[9]
Data from Vickers Aircraft since 1908[13]
General characteristics
Performance
Related lists
