About This Aircraft
The Vickers Varsity T.1 was a British twin-engine training aircraft that served the Royal Air Force for over 25 years. This example is WL679. Based on the Viking and Valetta, the Varsity was designed specifically as an advanced "flying classroom" for training the entire crews of multi-engine aircraft, particularly bombers. It featured dedicated positions for two pilots, a navigator, a bomb aimer, and a radio operator. Its most distinctive feature was its ventral pannier, or "bomb bay," used to train bomb aimers. Powered by two Bristol Hercules radial engines, the Varsity was a stable and reliable platform that trained thousands of aircrew before they progressed to operational types like the V-bombers.
Museums Featuring This Aircraft
Exhibits can change. To avoid disappointment, before visiting, please check the museum website for up-to-date exhibit listings.