Newly released from Aeronaut Books and author is Colin Owers is a two volume series on Vickers aircraft of WW1:
The story of how the Vickers, Sons and Maxim Ltd, heavy armament manufacturers, entered aeronautical manufacturing when the military potential of aviation became apparent, is told in these two volumes. Vickers aircraft were soon flying, originally being based on the French REP monoplane. Then in 1913 they exhibited what could well be the first British aircraft designed from the start as a fighting machine with a forward firing machine gun. This was developed into the F.B.5, better known as the ‘Gun Bus’. They were in service as soon as the war broke out in 1914 and for a while were successful. The advent of the synchronised machine gun fighter saw Vickers machines fall out of favour. They built many interesting prototypes but only three were manufactured in small series.
The Company produced some of the fastest aircraft of their time and in a civil world would have achieved fame; however, they were not suited to the evolving aerial battlefield. The Vimy bomber of 1918 was a sensation, lifting a greater bombload the Handley Page O/400 on less power. The end of hostilities meant that no Vimy flew on operations in WWI but it went onto a long career in the RAF and in civil hands in its Vernon version.
The story of this remarkable company is told in detail including contemporary drawings from official manuals and reports. Volume 1 has 182 photos, 30 color profiles, and scale drawings of 3 aircraft in its 207 pages. Volume 2 has 221 photos, 33 color profiles, and scale drawings of 3 aircraft within its 214 pages.
The two volumes, Vickers Aircraft of WWI: Volume 1: E.F.B – F.B.12 and Vickers Aircraft of WWI: Volume 2: F.B.14 – Valentia Flying Boat are currently available in paperback format.
Product Page (Volume 1)
Product Page (Volume 2)
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