Engineering:Canadian Vickers Vanessa

Vanessa
Canadian Vickers Vanessa during RCAF testing
Role	transport seaplane
Manufacturer	Canadian Vickers
Status	Cancelled
Primary user	Royal Canadian Air Force (intended)
Number built	1

The Canadian Vickers Vanessa was a Canadian biplane transport seaplane of the 1920s. It was a single-engine, twin-float biplane of mixed construction, evaluated by the Royal Canadian Air Force and used for experimental air-mail services..

Design and development

The Vanessa was developed as a private venture commercial seaplane. The Canadian Vickers Chief Engineer based his design on the contemporary Stinson cabin biplane which had been introduced in the United States. The one feature that was a departure from the Stinson was the use of interplane struts which formed an "X" (when viewed from the front), thus eliminating the need for traditional wire bracing and allowing easy access to the cabin. The enclosed cabin fuselage was constructed of steel tubing as were various support structures along with the tail surfaces. The remainder of the aircraft was of wood construction and the entire aircraft was fabric covered.

Ailerons and flaps, the latter being an unusual feature in aircraft of that time, were fitted to each of the equal span wings and were also interconnected by struts.

Testing

A prototype, G-CYZJ, was constructed, after which the Royal Canadian Air Force evinced an interest in the type as a communications aircraft. Service testing indicated that the aircraft was under-powered and the Armstrong Siddeley Lynx was replaced with a 220 hp (160 kW) Wright Whirlwind

In September 1927, the still experimental Vickers Vanessa was used for series of trial airmail runs involving the first airmail delivery. While waiting off the dock at Rimouski, Quebec, on 9 September 1927, Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron Leader John H. Tudhope received 502 lb (228 kg) of mail from the inbound RMS Empress of France While taxiing the Vanessa for takeoff, a strut ruptured and punctured the aircraft's starboard float causing it to tip over to that side. The propeller lopped off half the float and the machine broke up, resulting in the aircraft sinking. Tudhope scrambled to safety and the mail was rescued, eventually reaching its destinations by rail.

Following a subsequent salvage, the Vanessa was considered uneconomical to repair and was abandoned.

Despite a very brief career, the Vanessa has the distinction of being one of the first enclosed cabin aircraft to be designed and built in Canada and the first aircraft to be used in an experimental airmail flight in Canada.

Specifications (Vanessa–Lynx engine)

Canadian Vickers Vanessa 3-view drawing from L'Air July 1, 1927

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928, RCAF.com

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 4 pax
• Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.13 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 1 in (10.7 m)
• Height: 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m)
• Wing area: 410 sq ft (38 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,120 lb (962 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 400 lb (180 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)
  
• Alighting speed: 45 mph (39 kn; 72 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 550 ft/min (2.8 m/s)

Bibliography

• Molson, K.M.; Taylor, H.A. (1982). Canadian aircraft since 1909 (1. publ. ed.). Stittsville, Ont.: Canada's Wings. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.