Vickers Wellesley

The Vickers Wellesley was a single‑engine, long‑range monoplane developed for the Royal Air Force in the mid‑1930s. Conceived by the innovative engineer Barnes Wallis, who later became famous for his geodetic airframe techniques, the Wellesley incorporated a pioneering geodetic construction that gave the aircraft exceptional strength‑to‑weight ratio and remarkable damage tolerance. Powered by a 750 hp Bristol Pegasus radial engine, it featured a high‑wing cantilever design, retractable undercarriage and a spacious bomb bay that could carry up to 2 000 lb of ordnance. The prototype first flew on 25 January 1935, and the type entered service as a light bomber and reconnaissance platform, seeing limited action during the early stages of World War II. Its most celebrated achievement came on 5 April 1938, when a specially modified Wellesley set a world‑distance record of 7 158 mi, piloted by R. E. G. Williams and J. R. M. the‑Sir. Although quickly superseded by more powerful twins such as the Vickers Wellington, the Wellesley demonstrated the practicality of geodetic construction and paved the way for later Vickers designs. The aircraft remains a key milestone in British aviation, illustrating how inventive engineering can extend performance limits of a modest powerplant.

Barnes Wallis

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification