Vickers Vampire

[VonHelton]

British Ground Attack Aircraft.

2 production runs before the war ended:

1. Bently powered rotary engine.
2. Dragonfly powered radial.

What I'd like to know is what units got the plane, and how many planes per unit, please!

[MikeW]

That's easy, none and none.


I don't know where you got the idea that there were two production runs, they made just a handfull of the things. The FB26 prototype (Hispano Suiza) killed Harald Barnwell, the brother of Frank Barnwell, famous for his Bristols

Six FB26s were ordered but it is not clear if all were made. Three were modifed, and named the Vampire. One was modified as the FB26A, powered by the Bentley rotary and named Vampire Mk.II.

[VonHelton]

Originally Posted by MikeW

That's easy, none and none.


I don't know where you got the idea that there were two production runs, they made just a handfull of the things. The FB26 prototype (Hispano Suiza) killed Harald Barnwell, the brother of Frank Barnwell, famous for his Bristols

Six FB26s were ordered but it is not clear if all were made. Three were modifed, and named the Vampire. One was modified as the FB26A, powered by the Bentley rotary and named Vampire Mk.II.

My sources are the scant few WW1 websites left on the 'Net.

The prototype Vampire had a V8 engine. The 2 production models had the Bently & Dragonfly.

The source does say that most of the Bently engines went to the Snipe & Salamander, which is why Vickers came out with a second version powered by the Drangonfly Radial.

.....But it never gave the impression that the plane was a complete failure.



Oh, and it says that the prototype Vampire came out in May 1917, plenty of time for at least one production run....

[MikeW]

My sources are the scant few WW1 websites left on the 'Net.

Well, my sources are Jack Bruce's Aircraft of the RFC (Military Wing) and the Putnam Vickers history. I see that I must bow to your superior sources, if it's on the web it must be right eh? That's the spirit!


I'm sorry, I can't let this one go:-

The source does say that most of the Bently engines went to the Snipe & Salamander, which is why Vickers came out with a second version powered by the Drangonfly Radial.

Where did you get this stuff, the "Janet and John on the Somme" website?


Look, I'm sorry - I apologise. I don't mean to put you off - I get a bit of a grump on when people quote websites at me.


You asked for information, I gave you the facts.


Mike

[Rbailey]

According to Bruce - British airplanes 1914-1918 - 6 serial numbers were allocated and probably three were built - as FB-26 and FB-26A, with Hispano and Bently engines. No mention of a dragonfly version. One or two went to home defense squadrons - 141 and 39. Apparently, 2 aircraft have been confused with 2 production runs.

[JohnFitz]

Perhaps it is the FB 12 of which you are speaking? They tried the Hart engine in it. The Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War book says, fifty F.B. 12c were ordered (A7351-A7400) Nov. 1916. Only 18 examples were completed however.

[VonHelton]

Originally Posted by Rbailey

According to Bruce - British airplanes 1914-1918 - 6 serial numbers were allocated and probably three were built - as FB-26 and FB-26A, with Hispano and Bently engines. No mention of a dragonfly version. One or two went to home defense squadrons - 141 and 39. Apparently, 2 aircraft have been confused with 2 production runs.

Let me see if I understand you correctly..........

1. A factory is retooled & workers are retrained, just to build 1 or 2 aircraft.

2. A ground attack aircraft is used for Home Defense, a purpose for which it is ill-suited, and would be a complete failure at.

.......And you don't have a problem with this? A bell isn't going off in your head?

My god, this is worse than the Pfalz Dr1 crap!!



Don't worry, I'm not faulting you, all you have to go on is what is written in a book somewhere.

Considering the huge amount of propaganda on both sides of the trench, I tend to sit down & think about things before merely taking them at face value.

........Maybe I over-analize, maybe I don't.

[VonHelton]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Where did you get this stuff, the "Janet and John on the Somme" website?

I guess I just love detective work?

[Tripehound]

F.B.26 "production":
One unnumbered prototype built in May 1917, crashed August 1917.

Contract for six redesigned prototypes (B1484 - B1489) in September 1917, to be powered by the 200 hp Hisso, and intended for Home Defense squadrons. Three built. B1484 sent to 141 Squadron at Biggin Hill in February 1918 for evaluation, which was: "It was most unpleasant in a spin, rotating at appalling speed, went fast but would not climb much." Work on fourth and fifth machines stopped, and B1489 was not started.

B1485 fitted with an armored nacelle and B.R.2 rotary in the late summer of 1918 as the Vampire II. Production of this variant with the ABC Dragonfly radial was considered, but the engine was a failure and the war ended.

[Rbailey]

Originally Posted by VonHelton

Don't worry, I'm not faulting you, all you have to go on is what is written in a book somewhere.

Considering the huge amount of propaganda on both sides of the trench, I tend to sit down & think about things before merely taking them at face value.

........Maybe I over-analize, maybe I don't.

We all know that books can be found to be in error, even those by experts such as Bruce, as more information is discovered. On the other hand, I don't see where you have quoted your sources. Unless you can do that, your claims have little weight.

Construction of prototypes was pretty common and did not involve retooling a factory.