Canadian Vickers Varuna

The Canadian Vickers Varuna was a Canadian flying boat of the 1920s built by Canadian Vickers as a twin-engined, unequal-span biplane, with a wooden hull and steel tube structure.

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

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Most Varunas spent their service in Manitoba operating in their intended role; all Varuna IIs were withdrawn in 1930 and the sole Varuna I was struck off in 1932

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

Specifications (Varuna II)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4
  • Length: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
  • Upper wingspan: 55 ft 1 in (16.8 m)
  • Lower wingspan: 47 ft 4 in (14.42 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
  • Wing area: 715 sq ft (66.4 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,369 lb (1,528 kg)
  • Gross weight: 5,299 lb (2,404 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 90 imp gal (110 US gal; 410 l) in two wing tanks, with an optional 60 imp gal (72 US gal; 270 l) ferry tank in the hull
  • Powerplant: 2 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV 7-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 187 hp (139 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 82 kn (94 mph, 151 km/h)
  • Alighting speed: 44 mph (38 kn; 71 km/h)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
  • Time to altitude: 5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 9 minutes
  • Wing loading: 7.4 lb/sq ft (36 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.0377 hp/lb (0.0620 kW/kg)
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References
  1. Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 69c–70c.
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