Canadian Vickers Varuna

Varuna
Role	Transport flying-boat
Manufacturer	Canadian Vickers
Retired	1932
Status	out of service
Primary user	Royal Canadian Air Force
Number built	8
Developed from	Canadian Vickers Vedette

The Canadian Vickers Varuna was a Canadian flying boat of the 1920s built by Canadian Vickers.

It was a twin-engined, unequal-span biplane. The hull was made of wood and the rest of the structure was a frame of steel tube.

Design and development

The Varuna was developed in response to a Royal Canadian Air Force requirement for a flying boat to transport men and equipment to forest fires. It was a large-scale twin-engined version of the Vedette.

Operational history

Most Varunas spent their service in Manitoba operating in their intended role.

All Varuna IIs were withdrawn in 1930. The only Varuna I was struck off in 1932

Variants

• Varuna I - with Wright Whirlwind J-6 radial engines, one built.
• Varuna II - with Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV radial engines.

Specifications (Varuna II)

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: two (+ one photographer on photographic missions)
• Capacity: four passengers
• Length: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
• Wingspan: 55 ft 3 in (16.84 m)
• Height: 13 ft 9.5 in (4.204 m)
• Wing area: 715 sq ft (66.4 m²)
• Empty weight: 4,325 lb (1,962 kg)
• Gross weight: 6,315 lb (2,864 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV 7-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 180 hp (130 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 70 kn; 130 km/h (81 mph)
• Service ceiling: 7,800 ft (2,400 m)

See also

References

1. "Vickers Varuna". canadianwings.com. Retrieved 9 April 2012.

External links

Media related to Canadian Vickers Varuna at Wikimedia Commons