Vickers Virginia

The Vickers Virginia was a twin‑engine biplane heavy bomber developed for the Royal Air Force in the early 1920s and produced by Vickers Limited. Originating from the Vickers Vimy, the Virginia first flew in 1921 and entered service in 1924, representing the RAF’s first long‑range night‑bombing aircraft. Its airframe featured a wooden box‑girder fuselage covered in fabric, a large upper wing with a modest lower wing, and a robust undercarriage capable of operating from rough grass fields. Powered by two Rolls‑Royce Condor or later Bristol Jupiter radial engines, the Virginia could carry up to 2,000 lb of bombs, had a maximum speed of about 100 mph, and a range exceeding 600 mi, allowing deep penetration of enemy territory.

Throughout the 1920s and into the early 1930s the Virginia formed the backbone of Britain’s strategic bomber force, serving in squadrons stationed both at home and overseas, notably in the Middle East. Its reliability and relatively simple design made it a valuable training platform for crews transitioning to newer monoplane bombers. As one of the last great biplane bombers, the Vickers Virginia bridged World War I piston‑engine technology to the more advanced aircraft of the interwar period, influencing bomber development and underscoring Vickers Limited’s role as a leading British aeronautical manufacturer.