Vickers Type 264 Valentia


 * For the flying boat, see Vickers Valentia

The Valentia (within the company known as the Type 264) was a British biplane cargo aircraft built by Vickers for the Royal Air Force. The majority built were conversions of the earlier Vickers Victoria.

Design and development
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. It was decided to carry out a two-stage upgrade, with the first, which was designated the Victoria Mk VI, or Configuration I, retaining the airframe of the Victoria, and therefore having a limited maximum weight, and a version with a strengthened airframe capable of taking full advantage of the greater power of the Pegasus engine. This was known as Configuration 2 and was designated the Vickers Valentia. It 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.

Operational history
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 fitted with loudspeakers for experiments with sky-shouting (i.e. using the loudspeakers to address people, in this case potentially rebellious tribes during air policing duties, while in flight). 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 and remained in service with the Iraq and Persia Communications Flight until 1944. The South African Air Force pressed a Valentia into service as a bomber in the East African Campaign in 1940-41.

Variants

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

Operators

 * 🇮🇳 India
 * Royal Indian Air Force
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * South African Air Force
 * Royal Air Force
 * No. 31 Squadron RAF
 * No. 70 Squadron RAF
 * No. 216 Squadron RAF
 * No. 244 Squadron RAF
 * No. 244 Squadron RAF