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Wellesley
Bomber
Vickers
 VICKERS WELLESLEY I - Two/three-seat medium bomber monoplane designed by RK Pierson to meet Operational Requirement (OR) 24 as defined by Specification 22/35. Prototype (Vickers Type 281) first flew early 1936 as modification of original Vickers Type 246 PV monoplane prototype to Specification G.4/31 (OR.2). First production Vickers Wellesley (Type 287) flew January 30, 1937, with 835 hp Bristol Pegasus XX; strengthened wing structure (Type 294) after first eight aircraft; production total 176. Service use began in No 76(B) Sqn, RAF Finningley in April 1937, followed by seven more squadrons in UK and Middle East in quick succession. Wartime use restricted to three squadrons in North Africa, Nos 14, 47 and 223, making up No 203 Group's Advanced Striking Force operating against Italian forces in East Africa. Of these, No 47 continued flying Vickers Wellesleys until September 1942. Armament comprised one fixed forward and one flexibly mounted 0.303-in (7.7-mm) machine gun, and up to 2,000 lb (908 kg) of bombs.
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| Crew |
2 |
| Dimensions |
|---|
| Wing span |
74 ft 7 in (22.74 m) |
| Length |
39 ft 3 in (11.96 m) |
| Wing area |
586 sq ft (54.4m² ) |
| Powerplant |
|---|
| 1 × PE Bristol Pegasus XX, hp |
950 |
| Weight, kg: |
|---|
| Empty weight |
6,760 lb (3,066 kg) |
| Maximum takeoff weight |
12,500 lb (5,670 kg) |
| Performance |
|---|
| Maximum speed at 19,680ft (6,000 m) |
228 mph (367 km/h) |
| Cruising speed |
180 mph (290 km/h) |
| Service ceiling |
22,500 ft (6,858 m) |
| Service range |
1,335 mis (2,148 km) |
| Armament |
|---|
| 2 × 7,69-mm machine guns, bombs ,kg |
907 |
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Aircraft
