Vickers Varsity T
Military Trainer Aircraft

The Vickers Varsity T.Mk 1 was a RAF crew trainer, it first flew in July 1949 and entered RAF service two years later replacing the T10 training version of the WW2 Wellington Bomber. The Varsity was retained by the RAF as a trainer until mid 1976 at which time a total of 160 aircraft had been built, it's crew training role being taken over by the Scottish Aviation Jetstream T1. A single aircraft was to remain in use until 1992 with the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), this aircraft is now on display at the RAF museum.

Vickers Varsity T.Mk 1 Specifications:

• Crew: four

• Length: 67 ft 6 in (20.57 m)

• Wingspan: 95 ft 7 in (29.13 m)

• Height: 23 ft 11 in (7.29 m)

• Empty weight: 27,040 lb (12 265 kg)

• Loaded weight: 37,500 lb (17,010 kg)

• Engines: Twin 1,950 hp (1,455 kW) Bristol Hercules 264 14-cylinder radial engines

• Maximum speed: 250 kn (288 mph, 464 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

• Range: 2,302 nmi (2,648 mi, 4,263 km)

• Service ceiling: 28,700 ft (8,750 m)

Armament:

• 600 lb (272 kg) practice bombs in an externally carried pannier