Vickers Type 264 Valentia

While the Napier Lion-powered Victoria served successfully with the RAF as a bomber transport, by 1932, the Lion engine was becoming obsolete and it was clear that it could use more power. It was therefore decided to re-engine the aircraft with more powerful Bristol Pegasus engines.{{cite book |last= Andrews|first=E.N. |author2=Morgan, E.B. |title= Vickers Aircraft Since 1908 |edition= Second |year= 1988 |publisher= Putnam|location= London |isbn=0-85177-815-1 |pages= 163–171, 176}} It was decided to carry out a two-stage upgrade, with the first, designated the Victoria Mk VI or Configuration I, having a limited maximum weight. This was followed by Configuration 2 which was capable of taking full advantage of the greater power of the Pegasus engine by virtue of a strengthened airframe featuring a strengthened wing, strut rather than wire-braced landing gear, wheel brakes and a tailwheel in place of a skid. This became the Vickers Valentia Mk I which flew for the first time in 1934.

Orders were placed for the 28 new build Valentias to Specification 30/34, with a further 54 being converted from Victorias (Type 278 within the company), with production continuing until 1936.

In 1938 a version with Pegasus IIM3 engines (which offered improved 'hot and high' performance) was supplied for service with one flight of No. 31 Squadron then based in Lahore.

The Valentia first entered service with No. 70 Squadron RAF at Hinaidi, Iraq in 1934, equipping British forces in India, Persia and Iraq.

Like the preceding Vernons and Victorias, the Valentias were extensively used for transport operations in the Middle East, and when necessary used for bombing operations with bomb racks under the wings. Valentias were also experimentally fitted with loudspeakers used to address people being overflown (in this case potentially rebellious tribes during air policing duties). The Valentia was also used for experiments with aerial refuelling by Alan Cobham.

Valentias were used for night bombing operations over the Western Desert in 1940. In service with No. 31 Squadron RAF and the RAF Communications Flight Iraq, they took part in the 1941 Siege of RAF Habbaniya and subsequent operations. They then remained in service with the Communications Flight Iraq (later Iraq & Persia) until 1944.JeffordLakeThe National Archives, Kew. AIR 29/893 The South African Air Force pressed a Valentia into service as a bomber in the East African Campaign in 1940–41.{{Cite journal| date =4 December 1944 | title = Roll Out the Barrel | journal = Time Magazine | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,796959,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184609/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,796959,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 September 2007 | access-date = 2007-08-31 }}

The Valentia was replaced as a transport in RAF service by the Bristol Bombay.[http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_bristol_bombay.html Bristol Type 130 Bombay]

• Valentia Mk I : Military transport aircraft for the RAF.

;{{flag|India|British}}

• Royal Indian Air Force

;{{flag|South Africa|1928}}

• South African Air Force

;{{UK}}

• Royal Air Force
• No. 31 Squadron RAF
• No. 70 Squadron RAF
• No. 216 Squadron RAF
• Communication Flight Iraq

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force{{Cite book|author=Thetford, Owen|title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57|edition= 1st |publisher=Putnam |location= London|year=1957|pages=430–431}}

|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=2

|capacity=22 troops

|length m=

|length ft=59

|length in=6

|span m=

|span ft=87

|span in=4

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|height ft=17

|height in=9

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=2178

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=10944

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=19500

|gross weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Bristol Pegasus II L3 or M3

|eng1 type=radial engines

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=650

|more power=

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|prop dia m=

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|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=130

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|max speed note=at {{convert|5000|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=117

|cruise speed kts=

|range km=

|range miles=800

|range nmi=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=16250

|g limits=

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|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=700

|lift to drag=

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|bombs= Could be fitted with underwing racks for 2,200 lb of bombs|rockets=

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{{aircontent

|related=

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|lists=

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
• List of aircraft of World War II

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{{commons category|Vickers Type 264 Valentia}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Jefford |first=C.G. |title=RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 |location=Shrewsbury |publisher=Airlife Publishing |year=2001 |isbn=1-84037-141-2}}
• {{cite book |last=Lake |first=Alan |title=Flying Units of the RAF, The ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912 |location=Shrewsbury |publisher=Airlife Publishing |year=1999 |isbn=1-84037-086-6}}

{{refend}}

{{Vickers aircraft}}

Category:1930s British military transport aircraft

Type 264 Valentia

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