Vickers Armstrong Wellesley MkI

Manufacturers: Vickers - Armstrong Ltd., Weybridge, Surrey. Sub assemblies built by Heston Aircraft Ltd., Heston, Middlesex.

Origin & Development: The prototype first appeared in 1935, although its evolution proper began in 1932. Deliveries of the production version to squadrons began in the spring of 1938. The Long Range Flight was formed also in 1938. The cheif modification to these aircraft being the use of a Bristol long chord cowling in place of the standard short chord cowling.

Power Plant: One Bristol Pegasus XX air cooled radial motor. Maximum level power, 925 h.p. at 2,600 rpm at 10,000 ft. Cruising power, 570 h.p. at 2,260 rpm at 20,000 ft. Take off power, 835 h.p. at 2,475 rpm at sea level.

Weights: Empty, 6,339 lbs. Loaded, 11,100lbs. Overload, 12,500lbs. Disposable load, 3,866 lbs.

Tankage: Fuel (normal), 254 gallons. Fuel (overload), 425 gallons. Oil, 20 gallons.

Performance: Maximum speed, 228 mph at 19,680 ft. Operating speed, 188 mph at 15,000 ft. Landing speed, 57 mph. Initial climb rate 1,200 ft/min. Maximum overload range at 38% power, 2,950 miles

History: The Wellesley II is a slightly modified version of the MkI which was first produced in 1935 as the O.9 to specification G4/31, and it was built in some numbers for the Expansion Scheme. Its cheif claim to fame is that it was the first aeroplane utlising the Geodesic method of construction to go into service with the RAF.

The possibilities of the Geodetic form of construction were ably demonstrated by four special long range versions of the Wellesley which set up a World record non stop flight from Egypt to Australia in 1938, a distance of 7,162 miles.

The first Wellesleys went to a number of newly formed bomber squadrons early in 1938 and equipped Nos. 35, 76, 77 and 148 (B) Squadrons. Later a number were sent out to No.223 (B) Squadron, and as the home based machines were replaced they, too, were sent out to the Middle East. Mk I's still in service were modified to the Mk II specification and have played a prominent part in the Lybian campaigns, in Syria, in Abyssinia and in 'Iraq.

The Wellesley II differs from the MkI in having an extended cockpit covering extending from the pilot's cockpit to a point just forward of the rear cockpit incorporating the navigator's position which was formerly lighted only by small side panels. The gunner's cockpit remains as before. A number of other minor alterations have taken place on the Middle East version of the machine, among which is the incorporation of desert equipment.

Version 2.0 all ready for download. The model uses Lobo's 2D Wellesley panel and the virtual panel is now pretty close to a Wellesley's. The Model depicts K7718 of Sqd 47, ( I think). No 47 Sqd: Squadron code: KU Sep 1939 - Sep 1942. In 1939 the squadron received Vickers Wellesleys, although some Vincents were retained into 1940. Immediately on the outbreak of war with Italy, the squadron began undertaking bombing operations against Italian forces in Ethiopia and Eritrea continuing these until May 1941, following the Italian surrender. The squadron moved to the Middle East in December 1941 and began anti-submarine patrols in April 1942, with Beauforts beginning to arrive in July, although the last Wellesley was not retired until March 1943.

On November 5 1939, 3 modified Wellesleys, of the RAF Long Range Development Unit, took off from Ismailia, in Egypt, heading for Australia, over Saudi Arabia, India, and the Dutch East Indies, to set a new World Record for distance in a straight line. To attempt the record, the RAF altered the aircraft with a low drag engine cowl, enhanced fuel capacity, and a modified propeller. An autopilot system was added, as the flight was envisaged to last over 48 hours.Two of the aircraft made landfall at Darwin on Nov 7 with only 61 Imp Gal left in the tanks, having flown a record breaking distance of 7,157.7 miles non - stop for 48 hours; a record that was to stand for another 8 years.

Aircraft of the Fighting Powers: Vol. 2, H.J. Cooper & O.G. Thetford, Edited by D.A. Russel, The Harborough Publishing Company. 1941
Lobo for help in research, there's not a lot of information about the Wellesley that is easy to find, and of course that superb panel.
RAF Hendon's Department of Research and Information.
The Forums of www.CFS2.dogfighter.com (now www.netwings.org) and www.sim-outhouse.com.
The 1% organisation at www.Avhistory.org for Jerry Beckwiths airfile & DP spreadsheets, and help in general.
I think I've got everyone if I've missed you off, please let me know.

MkI Version:
V1.0 version released 7th December 2003.
V1.1 released on the same day a few hours later. Wrong Z buffer value given to crew members forces them to appear outside the fuselage at time. This version corrects this problem. V1.2 released only a few hours after V1.1. This one cures the problem of the prop disc hiding the crew members. When is version 1.3 due?
V1.3 to answer that question 8th December 2003. This version fixes the missing texture on prop hub and animates the rear gunner with the gear and not the bomb doors.
V1.4 really does fix the prop hub.
V1.5 released 11th December 2003. Rear gunner still operated with bomb doors on the lower detail models. This has now been fixed in this version.
V2.0 released 7th January 2004. Updates internal details, textures for engine and Lobo's 2D panel and other minor mods.
V2.1 released 10th February 2004. Fixes problems with the virtual cockpit for FS2004.

LRF Version CFS2:
V1.0 version released on 21st March 2004
V1.1 released 2nd April. Removes underwing bomb nacelles and corrects squadron markings.

LRF Version FS2004:
V1.0 version released on 2nd April 2004

Check back for updates.

CFS 2	FS2004
Wellesley Mk1 Version V2.1 Size: 3.04Mb.
Wellesley Mk1 LRF Version V1.1 Size: 2.84Mb.	Wellesley Mk1 LRF Version V1.0 Size: 2.90Mb.
Wellesley Mk2 Version V1.0 coming soon,	Wellesley Mk2 Version V1.0 coming soon,
PAH_wep.zip The .dp uses the 250lbs from this small weapons pack and practice bombs which come as part of The Groundcrews British Weapons Pack. This can be downloaded at www.groundcrewdesign.com/cfs2stuff.htm.
Sound.cfg Sound config file to modify stock CFS2 Wildcat sounds. Lowers revs and fattens up sound at higher revs. Simply copy the stock wav files from the Wildcat Sound folder into the new aircrafts sound folder. Then unzip the config file into the same folder.