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Victor

The third of the RAF's trio of V-bombers, the Handley Page Victor flew for the first time on 24 December 1952, and the first production B.Mk.1 flew on February 1, 1956. The Victor B.1 and B.1A, the latter having modified equipment and ECM in the rear fuselage, subsequently entered service with Nos. 10, 15, 55 and 57 Squadrons of No. 3 Group R.A.F. Bomber Command, anti a photo-reconnaissance version, the B.(P.R.)1, was delivered to the R.A.F.'s Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at Wytan. Carrying a crew of five, the Victor B.1 and B.1A cam accommodate a variety of conventional or nuclear free falling weapons in a large weapons bay. The Victor B.1 has flown at speeds only marginally below Mach 1.0 at altitudes above 50,000 feet, and could exceed Mach 1.0 in a shallow dive. Formation of the planned total of four Victor B.1 squadrons was completed in 1960.

The first Victor B.2 flew on 20 February 1959, and a reconnaissance version using a variety of advanced techniques was designated Victor B.(P.R.)2. The Victor B.2, which entered service with No. 3 Group of RAF Bomber Command early in 1962, the first squadron to receive this long-range medium bomber being No. 139. The first Victor B.2 unit to become operational with the Avro Blue Steel Mk. 1 rocket-propelled, supersonic-cruise stand-off weapon was No. 27 Squadron. By comparison with the B.Mk. 1, the Victor B.2 had substantially increased wing span, enlarged intakes to feed the appreciably more powerful Conway turbojets, and a retractable scoop on each side of the rear fuselage to supply ram air to two turbo-alternators.

Specifications

Primary Function: medium bomber

Contractor:

Power Plant: B.1 - Four Bristol Siddeley Sapphire 202 turbojets B.2 - Four Rolls-Royce Conway R.Co.11 turbojet

Thrust: B.2 - 11,000 lbst
B.2 - 17,250 lbst

Length: B.2 - 114 ft. 11 in.
B.2 - 114 ft. 11 in.

Height: B.2 - 28 ft. 11 in.
B.2 - 30 ft. 1i in.

Wingspan: B.2 - 110 ft.
B.2 - 120 ft.

Speed: B.1 - Max. speed, 650 mph. at 40,000-50,000 ft.(Mach 0.98)
B.1 - Cruising, 560-620 mph. at 30,000 ft.
B.2 - Max. speed, 650 m.p.h. at 40,000-50,000 ft. (Mach 0.98)
B.2 - Cruising, 560-620 m.p.h. at 35,000-45,000 ft.

Ceiling: B.2 - 55,000 ft.
B.2 - 60,000 ft.

Weight loaded: B.2 - 150,000-180,000 lb.
B.2 - 200,000 lb.

Maximum Takeoff Weight: B.2 -
B.2 -

Range: B.2 - 3,500 miles [internal tankage]
B.2 -

Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:

Date Deployed:

Inventory:

Sources and Resources

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Specifications
Primary Function:	medium bomber
Contractor:
Power Plant:	B.1 - Four Bristol Siddeley Sapphire 202 turbojets B.2 - Four Rolls-Royce Conway R.Co.11 turbojet
Thrust:	B.2 - 11,000 lbst B.2 - 17,250 lbst
Length:	B.2 - 114 ft. 11 in. B.2 - 114 ft. 11 in.
Height:	B.2 - 28 ft. 11 in. B.2 - 30 ft. 1i in.
Wingspan:	B.2 - 110 ft. B.2 - 120 ft.
Speed:	B.1 - Max. speed, 650 mph. at 40,000-50,000 ft.(Mach 0.98) B.1 - Cruising, 560-620 mph. at 30,000 ft. B.2 - Max. speed, 650 m.p.h. at 40,000-50,000 ft. (Mach 0.98) B.2 - Cruising, 560-620 m.p.h. at 35,000-45,000 ft.
Ceiling:	B.2 - 55,000 ft. B.2 - 60,000 ft.
Weight loaded:	B.2 - 150,000-180,000 lb. B.2 - 200,000 lb.
Maximum Takeoff Weight:	B.2 - B.2 -
Range:	B.2 - 3,500 miles [internal tankage] B.2 -
Armament:
Crew:
Unit Cost:
Date Deployed:
Inventory: