The Vickers Varsity T.Mk 1 was a British twin-engine crew trainer operated by the Royal Air Force for 25 years from 1951.

Design and development

Developed by Vickers and based on the Viking, the main differences were the wider span wings, longer fuselage and tricycle undercarriage, the Type 668 Varsity prototype first flew in 1949.

Operational history

The Varsity was introduced to replace the Wellington T10 trainer.

The Royal Swedish Air Force operated an example in the 1950s and 1960s on electronic intelligence missions.

The Varsity was withdrawn from service with the RAF in May 1976, its role as a pilot and navigation trainer taken over by the Scottish Aviation Jetstream T1.

The last flying example (Serial WL679) was operated by the Royal Aircraft Establishment; it was retired into preservation at the RAF Museum in 1992.

Operators

• Royal Jordanian Air Force

• Royal Swedish Air Force

• Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment
• Royal Air Force
  • No. 51 Squadron RAF
  • No. 97 Squadron RAF
  • No. 115 Squadron RAF
  • No. 116 Squadron RAF
  • No. 151 Squadron RAF
  • No. 173 Squadron RAF
  • No. 187 Squadron RAF
  • No. 192 Squadron RAF
  • No. 204 Squadron RAF
  • No. 527 Squadron RAF
  • Bomber Command Bombing School RAF
• Royal Aircraft Establishment

Survivors

Germany

On display

• Royal Air Force Varsity T1 WF382 at the Allied Museum, Berlin-Tegel.

Sweden

On display

• Tp82 Varsity 82001 at the Swedish Air Force Museum, Linkoping.

United Kingdom

On display

• Varsity T1 WF369 at the Newark Air Museum.
• Varsity T1 WF372 at Brooklands Museum.
• Varsity T1 WJ945 at Imperial War Museum Duxford.
• Varsity T1 WL626 at East Midlands Airport Aeropark.
• Varsity T1 WL679 at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, part of the Transport and Training Collection in Hangar 1.

United States

Stored or under restoration

• Varsity T1 N65558 the former WJ948 is in external storage at El Paso - West Texas Airport still in Royal Air Force colour scheme .

Specifications (T.Mk I)

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
• Ellis, Ken. Wrecks & Relics, 21st edition. Manchester: Crecy Publishing, 2008. ISBN 9 780859 791342
• Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Aircraft 1918-57, 1st edition. London: Putnam, 1957.