Canadian Warplanes 2: Canadian Vickers Vedette

Canadian Vickers Vedette

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388238)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. I flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS, Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 30 September, 1925.

The Canadian Vickers Vedette was the first aircraft designed and built in Canada to meet a specification for Canadian conditions. It was a single-engine biplane flying boat purchased to meet a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) demand for a smaller aircraft than the Vickers Viking with a much greater rate of climb, to be suitable for forestry survey and fire protection work. The type went on to have a long and distinguished career in civil operations in Canada. Most of the topographical maps in use in Canada today are based on photos taken from these aircraft.

Based on a preliminary design in early 1924 for a "flying boat" by R.K.Pierson of the British company Vickers, the Canadian Vickers Vedette was a two/three-seat single-engine pusher aircraft. The design was passed over to the subsidiary Canadian Vickers Limited of Longueuil, Quebec (formed in 1911) where Wilfrid Thomas Reid served as Chief Engineer. The prototype Vedette I was first flown on 4 November 1924, powered by a 200 hp (150 kW) Rolls-Royce Falcon III. It was subsequently fitted with 210 hp (160 kW) Wolseley Viper, 200 hp (150 kW) Wright J-4 and 215 hp (160 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engines for testing. Several versions of the Vedette were produced, including two amphibious versions and one with an enclosed cabin on an all-metal hull. With the exception of these major changes, most of the remaining differences between versions were relatively minor and not externally visible. Each version was produced with a range of optional engine types.

The first production example was provided to Fairchild Aerial Surveys (c/n 31 G-CAFF) before they started designing their own survey aircraft. The majority of the production run was purchased by the RCAF where the aircraft proved popular and versatile, if somewhat temperamental due to leaky hulls that required constant maintenance (a problem afflicting all wooden hulled flying boats). The Vedette undertook photographic and forestry patrols satisfactorily and provided a backbone for RCAF flying operations through the lean peacetime years. Vedettes started a coast-to-coast photographic survey that was needed to map out the large areas of the country still unmapped. These missions lasted until the outbreak of the Second World War, and would be completed after the war with newer types. Vedettes stationed on both coasts were also used for fishing and smuggling patrols, both with the RCAF and with Western Canada Airways. (Wikipedia)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. I (1), (Reg. No. G-CYFS), Mk. II (18), (Reg. Nos. G-CYGA, G-CYGW, G-CYGX, G-CYGY, G-CYGZ, G-CYXZ, G-CYYA, G-CYYB, G-CYYC, G-CYYD, G-CYYE, G-CYYF, G-CYZK, (later 11), G-CYZL, G-CYZM, G-CYZN, G-CYZO, 108), Mk. V (13), (Reg. Nos. G-CYVP, G-CYWR, G-CYWS, G-CYYZ, G-CYZA, G-CYZB, G-CYZC, G-CYZD, G-CYZE, G-CYZF, 109, 110, and 116 (later 803), Mk. VA (11), (Reg. Nos. G-CYWJ (later 808), G-CYWK, G-CYWL, G-CYWM, G-CYWN, G-CYWO, G-CYWP, G-CYWQ (later 809-814), 115, 123, 124), Mk. VI (1), (Reg. No. G-CYWI (later 817), for a total of 44 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 is unlikely 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 Vedette.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388240)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. I flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS, over Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 20 October 1925.

(RCAF Photo courtesy of the Canadian Aviation Preservation Association)

Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388230)

Groundcrew installing a Wright J-4 engine in Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF (Serial No. G-CYFS).

(DND Photo)

Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF (Serial No. G-CYFS).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. VA, RCAF (Serial No. G-CYWK) and (Serial No. G-CYWJ), Sled Lake, Saskatchewan, 1919.

(RCAF Photo)

Canadian Vickers Varuna I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYGV (left) and Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS (right),at Larder Lake, Ontario, 1926.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3552501)

Canadian Vickers Vedette, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS, 22 May 1925.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo, AM1535-: CVA 99-1473)

Canadian Vickers Vedette on the ramp, Vancouver, British Columbia, ca 1920.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580748)

Canadian Vickers Vedette, 19 March 1932.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3552499)

Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS, 22 May 1925.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3552498)

Canadian Vickers Vedette I, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYFS, Wright Engine, 22 May 1925.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3553009)

Canadian Vickers Vedette, RCAF Reg. No. G-CAUU, 23 Nov 1928.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3553010)

Canadian Vickers Vedette, RCAF Reg. No. G-CAUU, 23 Nov 1928.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3553011)

Canadian Vickers Vedette, RCAF Reg. No. G-CAUU, 23 Nov 1928.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3553012)

Canadian Vickers Vedette, RCAF Reg. No. G-CAUU, 23 Nov 1928.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3574057)

Photographer operating a K3 aerial camera in a Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. II flying boat of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3256679)

‍Canadian Vickers 'Vedette' V flying boat G-CYYZ of the RCAF, equipped with camera for oblique aerial photography, 24 August 1929.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388242)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. II flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYYC. In the background are a Canadian Vickers Varuna Mk. II Reg. No. G-CYZV, Keystone Puffer Reg. No. G-CYZI, de Havilland DH.60X Moth, Reg. No. G-CYYP, Fairchild FC-2, Reg. No. G-CYYT.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388242)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. II flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYYD, c1932.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388243)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. II, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYYD, possibly over Manitoba, ca. 1932.

(RCAF Photo courtesy of the Canadian Aviation Preservation Association)

Canadian Vickers Vedette & Photo equipment.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650434)

Canadian Vickers Vedette II flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYYF, near Orient Bay, Ontario, ca 1930.

(Author Photo)

Canadian Vickers Vedette V, Reg. No. CF-MAA. Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(Author Photo)

Canadian Vickers Vedette V, Reg. No. CF-MAA. Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(Author Photo)

Canadian Vickers Vedette V, Reg. No. CF-MAA. Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Canadian Vickers Vedette Mk. VA, RCAF (Serial No. 803). Canadian Vickers Vancouver, RCAF, in the background. Jericho Beach, Vancouver, British Columbia. Originally (Serial No. 116). The aircraft sustained Cat A damage after a crash at Point Grey at 14:30 hours on 4 Nov 1935 while with No. 4 (Flying Boat) Squadron. The squadron was based at Jericho Beach. After being written off, it was reduced to spares and produce.