Let Let Let – Warplanes

The Vickers 161 minus military markings and minus the COW-gun shortly after roll-out at Brooklands in March 1931.

The Vickers 161 was completely made of light-alloy with all wing and tail surfaces covered with fabric. Initially a Bristol Mercury IIA engine was fitted during preliminary construction, but this was soon replaced by the final supercharged Jupiter VIIf. The Vickers 161 was completed in January 1931 and test pilot Mutt Summers made the maiden flight on 21 January 1931. To improve lateral stability the tail surface was enlarged, with two small vertical stabilizers on the horizontal tail also being added. The initial flight testing was without the C.O.W.-gun fitted. In general flight characteristics were regarded as sufficient and the Vickers 161 flew quite well. The C.O.W.-gun was fitted later for operational trials. The Type 161 carried at this time the RAF serial number J9566. However, firing trials of the 37 mm gun were very limited and after only a few test firings the Royal Air Force lost interest for this heavy gun and only a single prototype 161 was ever built.

Rear view of the Vickers 161 still in its early configuration showing the conical shaped central tail boom. Fuel tank is in the central part of the upper wing. Note the four-bladed propeller and the protruding cylinders of the Jupiter engine!

The concept of an upwards firing gun was just too early for this period. However, the idea was used during WW-II by German night fighters and proved to be highly effective.

The almost completed Vickers 161 at Brooklands. Note the different tail shape when compared with the final version and the absence of the extra two vertical stabilizers

Westland also actually built and flew in December 1930 a Spec, F.29/27 fighter of much more conventional design fitted with the 37mm C.O.W.-gun. But again, the design had with little success.

Related posts:

1. Vickers Supermarine Type 381 Seagull ASR-1
2. Saunders Roe SR.53 and 177
3. Bell L-39 Sweep Cobra
4. The Kawasaki Ki-78 KEN III research plane
5. Eduard’s 49588 F6F-3 Hellcat gun bay set

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