The Vickers Wellesley was a medium bomber of World War 2.
It was one of two aircraft to be named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellington.
Variants
Type 281 Wellesley
Company designation for the Wellesley bomber.
Type 287 Wellesley Mk I
Two, and later three-seat medium bomber aircraft.
The Wellesley Mk I had separate canopies for pilot and gunner’s cockpits.
Wellesley Mk II
Unofficial designation used for examples with an extended canopy covering pilot and bombardier.
Type 289
Engine testbed to test the Hercules HE15 radial piston engine.
Type 291
Blind-flying model.
Type 292
Five aircraft modified for long-distance flying by the RAF’s Long-Range Development Unit Flight.
Alterations included extensive development work with a fuel dumping system to allow an emergency landing early in a long-distance flight when the weight of fuel would cause the aircraft to exceed its maximum landing weight.
Visible differences included NACA-type long-chord cowlings.
Three were used on the record-breaking flight.
Type 294
Prototype with strengthened wing for cutting barrage balloon cables.
Type 402
Three-seat experimental aircraft.
Specifications
Crew
3
Length
39 ft 3 in (11.96 m)
Wingspan
74 ft 4 in (22.66 m)
Height
15 ft 3+1⁄2 in (4.661 m)
Wing area
630 sq ft (59 m2)
Empty weight
6,760 lb (3,066 kg)
Gross weight
11,048 lb (5,011 kg)
Max take-off weight
12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
Powerplant
1 × Bristol Pegasus XX radial engine, 925 hp (690 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed
228 mph (367 km/h, 198 kn) at 19,700 ft (6,000 m)
Cruise speed
180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m) (57% power)
Range
1,220 mi (1,960 km, 1,060 nmi)
Service ceiling
25,500 ft (7,800 m)
Time to altitude
17.8 min to 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Armament
Guns
One × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun in right wing
One × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in rear cockpit
