The Vickers F.B.27 Vimy - England
by Larry Dwyer


Production Vickers Vimy IV, serial number H.651 with fins added to tail unit. (Photo. Imperial War Museum MH.3550)

The first Vimy F.B.27 prototype numbered B.9952 was powered by two 200 hp Hispano-Suiza engines and was then later fitted with two 260 hp Salmson water-cooled radial engines. The Salmson engine version of the design was not developed further.

The second Vimy F.B.27 prototype numbered B.9953 was powered by two 260 hp Sunbeam Maori engines. This plane was not tested extensively because it crashed on an early flight. This is listed as the Mk I.

The third Vimy F.B.27 prototype numbered B.9954 was powered by two 260 hp Fiat A-12 engines. The Fiat version of the F.B.27 was proved to be good and ordered in quantities. This is listed as the Mk II.

There was a Mk III version listed in the Technical Department Instruction No. 538A, dated January 1919, powered by two 230 hp B.H.P. engines but it is doubtful if any airplanes were completed with those engines.

The Americans were interested in the Vimy and asked if they could have Liberty engines installed. A trial installation was made but it was destroyed by fire at Joyce Green.

The first production model was the Fiat powered machine but then in the summer of 1918 the Vimy appeared in its best-known form with two Rolls-Royce Eagle IIIs of which the great majority of production machines had these engines. This is listed as the Mk IV and the first Vimy to have the Eagle engines was production number F.9569.

The performance of the Vimy IV was excellent and had a top speed of 98 mph at 5,000 feet. Alcock & Brown made the transatlantic flight in a modified Vimy IV.

Air speeds are listed for the Vimy by engine type in mph and altitude in feet.

Hispano-Suiza.
90 mph at seal level.
87 mph at 5,000 ft.
85 mph at 6,500 ft.

Maori (without bombs)
96 mph at 6,500 ft.
89.5 mph at 10,000 ft.

Fiat (without bombs)
96 mph at 5,000 ft.

Eagle (without bombs)
100 mph at 6,500 ft.
96 mph at 10,000 ft.

Salmson 94 mph at 5,000 ft.

Notes:
1. Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. 1957. Pages 697-703.

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