Vickers Jockey
Encyclopedia
The Vickers Type 151 Jockey was an experimental low-wing monoplane interceptor fighter powered by a radial engine. It was later modified into the Type 171 Jockey II which had a more powerful engine and detailed improvements. Only one was built, and this was lost before its development was complete, but the knowledge gained enabled Vickers to produce the more refined Venom
.
was keen to determine the best aircraft configuration and sought, under Air Ministry specification F.20/27, manufacturers to build biplanes and both low- and high-wing monoplanes. Vickers were asked for a prototype low wing fighter, and this became (somewhat unofficially) called the "Jockey", or sometimes the Jockey I. This name covered both Vickers Types 151 and 171; the Jockey II was an early name for the later Venom.
The Type 151 Jockey was a compact and rather angular low cantilever wing monoplane, built using the Wibault-Vickers corrugated skinned all metal method as used, for example on the Vireo
. The unstressed skin was riveted onto a largely duralumin
structure, a few steel tubes forming highly stressed members. The parallel chord, square tipped wing used the thick, high lift RAF 34 cross section Vickers had employed previously on the Viastra
. The tailplane was equally rectangular and the fin clipped. All control surfaces apart from the rudder were unbalanced. The pilot's open cockpit was at the highest part of the fuselage at mid-chord. The 480 hp (360 kW) Bristol Mercury
IIA 9-cylinder radial was initially mounted without a cowling. A single axle undercarriage had legs attached to front and rear wing spars.
The Jockey was taken to RAF Martlesham Heath
for its first flight in April 1930 and subsequent testing. A rear fuselage vibration was at first thought to be aerodynamic but proved to be structural; it was cured after Barnes Wallis
redesigned the internal bracing. The rudder was modified, its balance removed and a trim tab installed. Spats were added to the undercarriage and a Townend ring
enclosed the engine. The same aircraft was re-designated the Type 171 Jockey when the Mercury was replaced by a 530 hp (395 kW) supercharged Bristol Jupiter
VIIF. The intention to power the Jockey with a supercharged Mercury IVS2 was never realised after the sole Jockey was lost to a flat spin on 15 July 1932, crashing at Woodbridge, Suffolk
, pilot successfully bailing out at 5,000 feet. . The results of the tests had been sufficiently good to encourage Vickers to refine its design into the Vickers Venom.
Type 171 Jockey II
Type 196 Jockey III
Vickers Venom
-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908, 2nd ed. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1. * Goulding, James. Interceptor. London: Ian Allen, 1986. ISBN 0-7110-1583-X....
.
Development
In the late 1920s the idea of the interceptor fighter was forming. To deal with the faster and higher flying bombers, fighters had both to be fast at height and quick to get there. The Air MinistryAir Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
was keen to determine the best aircraft configuration and sought, under Air Ministry specification F.20/27, manufacturers to build biplanes and both low- and high-wing monoplanes. Vickers were asked for a prototype low wing fighter, and this became (somewhat unofficially) called the "Jockey", or sometimes the Jockey I. This name covered both Vickers Types 151 and 171; the Jockey II was an early name for the later Venom.
The Type 151 Jockey was a compact and rather angular low cantilever wing monoplane, built using the Wibault-Vickers corrugated skinned all metal method as used, for example on the Vireo
Vickers Vireo
The Vickers Vireo was an experimental low wing all-metal monoplane built to explore both all-metal service aircraft and the use of catapult launched ship board fighters. Only one was built.-Development:...
. The unstressed skin was riveted onto a largely duralumin
Duralumin
Duralumin is the trade name of one of the earliest types of age-hardenable aluminium alloys. The main alloying constituents are copper, manganese, and magnesium. A commonly used modern equivalent of this alloy type is AA2024, which contains 4.4% copper, 1.5% magnesium, 0.6% manganese and 93.5%...
structure, a few steel tubes forming highly stressed members. The parallel chord, square tipped wing used the thick, high lift RAF 34 cross section Vickers had employed previously on the Viastra
Vickers Viastra
The Vickers Viastra was an all-metal 12-seat passenger high-wing monoplane, with variants powered by one, two and three engines. Two twin-engined Viastras operated commercially in Australia from 1931-6; another served as a Royal transport.-Development:...
. The tailplane was equally rectangular and the fin clipped. All control surfaces apart from the rudder were unbalanced. The pilot's open cockpit was at the highest part of the fuselage at mid-chord. The 480 hp (360 kW) Bristol Mercury
Bristol Mercury
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Bridgman, L, Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
IIA 9-cylinder radial was initially mounted without a cowling. A single axle undercarriage had legs attached to front and rear wing spars.
The Jockey was taken to RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Martlesham Heath is a former Royal Air Force airfield in England. The field is located 1½ miles SW of Woodbridge, Suffolk.- RFC/RAF prewar use:Martlesham Heath was first used as a Royal Flying Corps airfield during World War I...
for its first flight in April 1930 and subsequent testing. A rear fuselage vibration was at first thought to be aerodynamic but proved to be structural; it was cured after Barnes Wallis
Barnes Wallis
Sir Barnes Neville Wallis, CBE FRS, RDI, FRAeS , was an English scientist, engineer and inventor. He is best known for inventing the bouncing bomb used by the RAF in Operation Chastise to attack the dams of the Ruhr Valley during World War II...
redesigned the internal bracing. The rudder was modified, its balance removed and a trim tab installed. Spats were added to the undercarriage and a Townend ring
Townend ring
A Townend Ring is a narrow-chord cowling ring fitted around the cylinders of an aircraft radial engine to reduce drag and improve cooling.-Development:...
enclosed the engine. The same aircraft was re-designated the Type 171 Jockey when the Mercury was replaced by a 530 hp (395 kW) supercharged Bristol Jupiter
Bristol Jupiter
The Bristol Jupiter was a British nine-cylinder single-row piston radial engine built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Originally designed late in World War I and known as the Cosmos Jupiter, a lengthy series of upgrades and developments turned it into one of the finest engines of its era.The...
VIIF. The intention to power the Jockey with a supercharged Mercury IVS2 was never realised after the sole Jockey was lost to a flat spin on 15 July 1932, crashing at Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
, pilot successfully bailing out at 5,000 feet. . The results of the tests had been sufficiently good to encourage Vickers to refine its design into the Vickers Venom.
Variants
Type 151 Jockey- Prototype single seat fighter, one only (J9122).
Type 171 Jockey II
- Early name for Vickers VenomVickers Venom-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908, 2nd ed. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1. * Goulding, James. Interceptor. London: Ian Allen, 1986. ISBN 0-7110-1583-X....
, a Jockey development.
Type 196 Jockey III
- Single seat fighter, same engine as Type 171. Started but not completed. Registered G-AAWG reserved by Vickers 5 April 1933.