Vickers Varsity

[Proplinerman]

I'm very pleased to see that Newark have moved the Varsity indoors since I took my photo of it some years ago and isn't she looking great! A real credit to the museum.

[Loki]

I see the Duxford example has already been posted, but what the heck?

[Jeff Glasser]

What a great thread, just read through it and thought I must add my little anecdote which I still find embarressing to this day.
It was as an air cadet on summer camp at R.A.F. Oakington in 1963 or '64. (some Japanese singer was singing the olympics song in the n.a.a.f.i. all the time)
Myself and another cadet were lucky enough to get some flying doing circuits at a nearby airfield (Gravely?) Anyway we sat quietly in the rear and I was quite happy until I needed a pee. This should'nt have been a problem, but my friend told me that as if I got up to go to the toilet I would upset the C.of G. and we'd probably pull a loop, crash, and all die and it would be my fault. I held on thinking that after every 'touch and go' we'd go back to Oakington and blessed relief.
After half an hour of this I was in agony and my friend creased up with laughter. He also said the C.of G. problem would also manifest itself if I went forward to mention my predicament to the flight crew up front! They were very busy anyway.
Well, you can guess that a skinny air cadet can only hang onto a large amount of lemonade, tea, or whatever for just so long so I had to go, all over the seat, me and the floor!! My friend at this stage was crying with laughter! (I would have done the same to him)
When we finaly returned to Oakington, I thought I might get away with this if out of politeness I sat in my seat and let instructor and student go out first they would'nt notice, but no, the instructor was'nt going to leave two air cadets in his aeroplane un chaperoned and gestured for us to leave, whereupon my secret was out.
He never spoke, but the look of utter contempt stayed with me, I can still see him now.
Sorry to whoever had to clean it up, better than vomit though I suppose!
I do'nt have a serial number for the aircraft, only that it 'N' November on the fin,

Jeff

[T-21]

Hello Jeff,
5 FTS had Varsities coded "N" WF414,WJ942 and WL630.

[Jeff Glasser]

Thanks T-21, so I could have trashed any one of them!!!

Jeff

[langleybaston]

I think it was at Topcliffe that we had Varsities that did the Maccrihanish Kipper run, and supported the V Force dispersals? Correct me if one of the Met men misremembers! The Squadron Leader was Tommy Tucker [marvellously couth and impeccably dressed], and two of the captains were among our last remaining Poles, universally known as Flt Lt ****slinger and M Pilot Smackyerarse, as near as anyone could get to their names, more like an optician's chart than a name.

It was at Topcliffe 1966-ish that I made a good stab at disorientating a JP captain from Leeming. I was on det. from Leeming, he landed at Topcliffe and subsequently rang Met. I forgot where I was, and said "duty forecaster Leeming" just as the book said I should. The captain recognised my voice, we had a laugh and a quick brief, and I put the phone down. An hour later he rang from Leeming and said it was not until he was in the cockpit that he realised where he was. Unusual case of disorientation.

One of my colleagues was Effing George, [known as such by all] famously foul-mouthed, with a five year old son going the same way who could shame a sailor with his invective. I never heard the like for range, inventiveness, and the sheer breathtaking ratio of cussing to normal language.

One observer, on solitary weekend night duty, was briefly arrested by the RAF plod [with dog] who took him for a tramp trespasser, wrapped as he was in a filthy raincoat and wearing a balaclava, dozing in the office crouched over a radiator.

Met. was so busy providing a bespoke service to each aircraft [those were the days of proper service] in the big small hours [0500 onwards] that we had a double-manned forecaster watch from 0600. This meant the 0500 man getting out of his scratcher around 0400 [nobody was on base] and the 0600 man an hour earlier. Not funny in winter, as I recall.

[Old Bricks]

23 MU Varsity Location

I think that the last of the 23 MU Varsities is held in the outdoor museum at the eastern end of Tegel Airport in Berlin. Very visible from outside the fence, althought it does look a bit worn.

[Russruspy]

VARSITY WF372

Flew in this one as an ATC cadet at Stradishall mid 60s (tail A at that time) Now play with it as a volunteer at Brooklands. There is a film on Youtube of the Cosford Varsity making its final flight in 99 and passing over WF372 as a tribute.

Currently refitting the analogue bombing computer back in 372.

[Russruspy]

VICKERS VARSITY BOMBING

Anyone out there with knowledge of the bomb aiming eqipment on the Varsity? I am currently working on WF372. Have fitted the correct Sperry Sight and the computer but have not managed to get clear details of the bomb aimers panel/bomb distribution panel.

[Tea Planter]

Varsity Bomb-aiming Equipment

Hi, Russruspy.
I trained on Varsitys at Bomber Command Bombing School, Lindholme in 1959 (see earlier post 18 May 2009). The equipment was a WW2 vintage Mk14 bombsight with a 12/24 bomb selector panel located on the left of the bomb-aimer's prone position. We also used Gee H for radar bombing. All very entertaining but I'm glad the Cold War never turned hot with that stuff.

[Russruspy]

VARSITY BOMB AIMING

Hi Tea Planter, thanks for the reply. From the manual diagrams we have it shows the analogue computer above left of the prone position and the bomb selecting panel in the bulkhead racks above the windows. Was it different in you config? I have fitted the computer in the indicated position (connects with pitot head etc) and the Mk 14 sight is now in place, its the selector panel that still has us uncertain.

I could get some pictures to you if that would help.

Thanks again.

Russ

[Russruspy]

Varsity Aldis Lamp

Hi Folks. Anybody out there can enlighten me as to which style of Aldis/signal lamp was carried on the Varsity? On the one I work with there is a felt lined position for an Aldis with the standard 2pin socket on the other side of the Nav desk. But which sort. Was it the type with the banana handle as carried WW2 period or the later type that had clip on colour filters? Could it be either?

Cheers

Russ Palmer

[Russruspy]

Varsity Practise Bombs

Anybody have any details/dimensions of the practise bombs as used in the Varsity? WF372 still has the electrical blocks and carrier beams in the bombay and we are interested to get details of the projectiles. Picture links especially helpful.

[brokenlink]

Fate of Varsity at Duxford

Anyone an idea of what the future holds in store for the Duxford Varsity? Been inside for some while now presumably to dry out. Believe it was included in the recent Disposals Tender? Seems strange seeing as how they flew from both Oakington and Waterbeach.

[Russruspy]

My information is that the Duxford Varsity will only be disposed of as a whole airframe and not broken. It seems VERY shortsighted of the IWM as this was the mainstay of crew training between WW2 and the mid 70s - a direct descendant of the Wellington. Many hundreds if not thousands of RAF crew trained on the type and there are now only 5 or 6 left of the 163 built. It appears it is just not sexy enough for the IWM and suggests they are more interested in visitor appeal than aviation history.

[brokenlink]

Fate of Varsity at Duxford

Thanks for that, agree IWM do not exactly have a great record on this type of airframe. Be nice is a group took it on to conserve/restore where it was provided it stayed under cover.

[India Four Two]

Dome under the rear fuselage

I posted this question earlier and never did get an answer.

What's the dome under the rear fuselage?


Picture from Amos Keeto's post 83.

[T-21]

Picture and snippet of info here. Unusual Aircraft

[ian16th]

Varsity Practise Bombs

Russruspy,

I worked on the Varsity's at Lindholme from 1954-56 as a Radar fitter, so I'm not the expert on the bombs used.

But they were always referred to as '25lb smoke & flash'.

I hope that this helps.

[Dengue_Dude]

The flash and smoke 25 lb practice bomb probably hasn't changed for many years.

I can probably get some detail on the 'modern' ones - or, more to the point, the same design. PM if interested.

I trained as an FE on Varsity, one of mine is in Doncaster Museum, seems strange that . . . mind you, my best blue uniform is there as well