Shipbucket

H.P.80 Victor B.1

The initial Victor produced was the B.1, with significant changes from the original prototypes. The aircraft's mission was that of a high level nuclear bomber, effectively an atomic Halifax or Lancaster.



As noted, the forward cockpit was lengthened for centre of gravity considerations and the tail shortened, the leading edge slats disabled and vortex generators added to the wings. Cockpit glazing was also increased in area and the tail mounted air intake removed. Less obviously the very rear bomb bay doors, designed for allowing dropping of additional flash-bombs for photo reconnaissance, were also deleted.
The first production aircraft flew in February 1956 - and became the largest aircraft at that time to go supersonic on 1 June 1957. The first 5 Victor B.1's were completed in an aluminium metal colour scheme.
All subsequent Victors B.1's were completed in a white anti-flash scheme, to minimise heat damage from nuclear detonations. It did however take some time to realise that the black and dark blue detail paint would provide a major weakness to this heat-proofing, and eventually a toned down pale blue and red were adopted for roundels and serials.
Four aircraft were completed as B(PR).1 photo-reconnaissance aircraft, with "special reconnaissance equipment" including Yellow Aster sideways looking radar. These aircraft did not appear significantly different from their standard B.1 siblings, and formed the Radar Reconnaissance Flight after completion of the initial Victor crew qualification.
Working on improving the in service Victor B.1's, led to the B.1A upgrade programme. The Vickers Valiant was planned to be the V-bomber tanker so Victors were not required to have any fuel tanking capability, but a need was to receive air-to-air refuelling. A refuelling probe was fitted as a part of the upgrade, as was more sophisticated electronic warfare suite in a revised tailcone and with an airconditioning scoop under the rear belly. The final major modification was the installation of a revised "drooped" wing leading edge.

Fabulous work!!
The Victor was an amazingly futuristic looking aircraft and was perhaps the best engineered of the three V-bombers that entered service.

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Awesome! Looking forward for more!

Victor updates - Victor II and Victor III

With advances in Soviet air defence capability, the success of high-level Victor bombing raids was called in to question, and in July 1954 HP proposed two lines of development for the Victor.



The Victor II was a minimal modification that changed the engines to a more powerful version of the Sapphire, giving an greater take-off performance and increase of 1000ft to maximum operating altitude.



The Victor III was a more extensive modification. Bigger Conway engines were to be fitted in an extensively redesigned wing centre section. A small fuselage plug forward of the bomb bay would push the nose forward, and a large plug rear of the bomb bay would push the tail back. An increase in take-off weight, range and bombing height to 55,500ft would be possible.

Absolutely gorgeous, Sheepster. I love the Victor, always have

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Hey, it's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere...

Currently working on:
The October War, 27-10-1962 (apparently forever);
"Saxonverse" alt-UK;
Federation of the Channel Islands AU;
Republic of Yopur & Andaman;
some sort of overarching AU;
Regaining my sanity.

Excellent work!

Excellent drawings! Nice series, very didactic!

H.P.80 Victor Phase 2

Further work on the Victor II was finalised as the Victor Phase 2.



From the Victor II, wingspan was increased with wingtip extensions. Development of the improved Sapphire engine was eventually dropped, and the engines changed to the Rolls Royce Conroys. With these engines and a wingroot plug pushing the engines outboard to fit an APU the design was further refined to become the Victor Phase 2A - which then entered production as the Victor Mk.2

H.P.104 Victor Phase 3

The Victor III was also further developed and allocated a new model number, to become the H.P.104 Victor Phase 3.



As with the Victor Phase 2, the Phase 3 was also given the extended wingtips, with a small fuselage reduction compared to the Victor III.
Engines were to be changed now to 4 Rolls Royce Olympus, or 6 Sapphire engines, then in development. The government was not willing to disrupt the Victor production line with a major redesign initially, and so a further batch was Victors was to be constructed to the Phase 2A standard, before production would be changed to the Phase 3 model. Several aircraft were allocated for rebuilding to Phase 3 standard, however financial considerations eventually put paid to the plans, and no Phase 3 aircraft were constructed.

H.P.80 Victor Phase 4

As the Victor was able to reach supersonic speeds, in October 1956, HP made a proposal for a revised Victor able to more efficiently operate supersonically.



Although designed before the Area Rule for efficient supersonic flight was discovered, the Victor was very close to being compliant with the Area Rule. As such only minimal redesign would be needed to create an economical supersonic Victor. Difficulties with weapon delivery at supersonic speeds seems to have been the major stumbling block with progressing this design, with resources concentrated on the subsonic Victors.