Canadian Vickers Varuna

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388224)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I flying boat, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYGV), Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 18 November 1925.

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 Most Varunas spent their service in Manitoba operating in their intended role; all Varuna IIs were withdrawn in 1930 and the sole Varuna I was struck off in 1932.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

Canadian Vickers Varuna Mk. I (1), (Registration G-CYGV), Mk. II (7), (Registration No’s G-CYZP - G-CYZV), for a total of 8 aircraft.

The registration G-CXXX was on all civil aircraft in Canada until about 1929 when it was changed to CF-XXX.  Then in the early 1970s the prefix was changed to C-GXXX and C-FXXX.  Ultralight aircraft were marked C-IXXX.  (Barney Dunlevy)

RCAF On Strength (46), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1). Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian-built aircraft may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The  CASPIR website is researched, coded, and maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years and to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history.  The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here for the Varuna.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN 3388216)

Canadian Vickers Varuna II, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYZT, 1927.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN 3388212)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, 1926.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN 3388223)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 18 Nov 1925.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN 3388222)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, Shirleyès Bay, Ontario, 18 Nov 1925.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388225)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, assigned to No. 3 (Operations) Squadron following the type test flights at Station Ottawa in 1927.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3223863)

Canadian Vickers Varuna Mk. I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, 18 Nov 1925.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388228)

Canadian Vickers Varuna II, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYZR, The Pas, Manitoba, 1928.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388215)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV and Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS, Larder Lake, Ontario, 1926.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN 3388213)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, No. 3 (Operations) Squadron, Station Ottawa, Ontario, 1926.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3551335)

Canadian Vickers Varuna II, RCAF Reg No. G-CYZS, Cormorant Lake, Manitoba, ca, 1929.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388214)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, RCAF, 1926.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388227)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV, 2 Oct 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388218)

Canadian Vickers Varuna II, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYZR, Saskatchewan, 1929.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3391070)

Canadian Vickers Varuna Mk. II, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYZT, with Canadian Vickers Viking Mk. IV, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYEX, in the background, 1927.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388217)

Canadian Vickers Varuna Mk. II flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYZQ, at Cormorant Lake, Manitoba, 1929.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203429)

Personnel of Ottawa Air Station with Canadian Vickers Varuna flying boat. (Front row, L-R): F/Os F.M. Carter, A.R. Collis, G.A. MacLean, S.R. Sunnucks, F.G. Wait, S/L R.S. Grandy, F/Os E.A. Copp, R.K. Rose, WO2 M. Graham, FS W.J. McGrandle, 18 August 1928.

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