C.Andrews Vickers Aircraft since 1908 (Putnam)
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Among the designs emerging from Vickers' drawing office at that time from which an attempt was made at actual construction was No. 14, known as the Hydravion, presumably because it was intended for operation off land or water. Duralumin floats for the Hydravion were made at Vickers' Dartford works and were tested for corrosion in the adjacent River Darent. According to records held by Vickers House, the whole machine was intended to be made at Dartford, although there is some doubt about this, since the factory there was concerned with explosives and projectiles; most early Vickers aircraft were, in fact, constructed at Erith.
The Hydravion was a large biplane designed on Farman lines, with the 100 hp Gnome engine mounted at the back of the nacelle and driving a pusher propeller, the tail being supported on outrigger booms. A pilot and three passengers were carried. One version was made - the seaplane, according to Vickers House - and as this crashed on an early test flight no photographs have been located. The estimated maximum speed was 51 1/2 mph and the stalling speed 32 mph.
Further developments of the Hydravion included one designated No. 14B. This was projected with two 100 hp Gnome engines, buried in the fuselage, driving tractor propellers through shafts and gearing, with provision for the disengagement of one or other engine, the remaining one still driving both propellers. There was a crew of three, and a 37-mm semi-automatic cannon, with a magazine of 50 shells, was to be mounted in the nose.
Hydravion - One 100 hp Gnome. Accommodation pilot and three passengers. Span 72 ft 8 in; length 43 ft; height 12 ft 2 in; wing area 819 sq ft. Gross weight 2,400 lb. Max speed at ground level 51.5 mph.
M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
VICKERS Hydravion Type 14 land/seaplane
This machine was designed on Farman lines and was an enlarged version of the familiar Boxkite, fitted with a nacelle to accommodate the pilot and three passengers. The tail booms, with three unequal bays were parallel in plan, and earned the tailplane on top, in line with the top wing. Twin rudders were fitted.
The three bay wings were fitted with top wing extensions braced by wires and kingposts. The seaplane version was the only one built, but it crashed at Dartford during an early test flight in 1912. The duralumin floats were made at the Dartford works.
A version to carry a 37mm cannon, with crew of three, was schemed and known as Type 14B. It would have been powered by two 100hp Gnome engines in the nacelle, driving twin tractor propellers, mounted outboard in the wings, through shafts and gearing.
Power: 100hp Gnome nine-cylinder air-cooled rotary.
Data
Span 72ft 8in 72ft 6in *
Area 819 sq. ft 840 sq. ft *
Length 43ft 43ft 6in *
Height 12ft 2in 12ft 6in *
Weight allup 2,400 lb. 3,000 b. *
Speed range 32-51 1/2 mph
* Type 14 mod.
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Vickers Hydravion
A large four-seat pusher biplane, No. 14, was built by Vickers during 1912 and named the Hydravion. It was powered by the 100 h.p. two-valve Gnome engine. A seaplane version was fitted with floats made at the Dartford works, but crashed at Dartford in the course of an early test flight. Span, 72 ft. 8 ins. Length, 43 ft. Height, 12 ft. 2 ins. Wing area, 819 sq. ft. Weight loaded, 2,400 lb. Maximum speed, 51.5 m.p.h.