Vildebeest IV's

[Dave Homewood]

The RNZAF received and operated 12 Vickers Vildebeest Mk. IV biplane bombers. They arrived with the rest of the ex-RAF Vildebeest IIIs that had also been purchased second hand.

The obvious difference between the Vildebeest III and Vildebeest IV was the III had an uncowled 690 hp Bristol Pegasus IIIM.3 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, with two-blade wooden prop.

Whereas the Vilde IV had a cowled 825 hp Bristol Perseus sleeve valve radial engine with a three-blade metal (I assume) prop. This was the very first sleeve valve aero engine produced.

The IV looked a lot like a Fairey Swordfish. But the Swordfish only had the Pegasus engine the same as a Vilde III, so I can only assume that the Vilde IV with the extra horsepower must have outpaced the Swordfish in the climb and level flight for speed.

Could they climb higher that the III?

I was thinking, I know very little about the Vildebeest IV. There is so little info available. Only 18 were built, and we got 12 of them.

Were they much faster than the Vilde II and Vincent?

What did they sound like with the big three blade prop and the sleeve valve engine?

I wonder if they were more sought after by the crews?

Did the sleeve valve engine mean more work and hassles for the groundcrews? Were they as reliable as the Pegasus?

Apart from the engine, cowling and propeller, was there much difference between the rest of the aircraft between Mk. III and Mk. IV? Were any other innovations added in the development of the IV?

And do any of those lovely huge metal props from a Vilde IV still survive? Or any Perseus engines?

[johnnyfalcon]

I don't know that I've ever seen a photo of an RNZAF IV

[Antonio]

The only information I have seen is a 1/72 scale model plan diagram of NZ123 by Special Hobby (SH72243)

[Dave Homewood]

It's very rare to see RNZAF Mk. IV's in photos. Most of the ones I have seen are a front-on view with men standing in front, posed, so it looks almost like a Swordfish behind them. I have seen that a few times.

The only Mk IV photos that I can find on the Wigram site are these from Maxwell Moore Skilton's personal collection. Vildebeest IV (believed to be NZ121 from No. 7 Squadron), which force-landed and overturned at Rawene after a cross country flight.







And, looking at the way the prop has broken on this aircraft I now think the propeller must have been wooden.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Antonio, that is cool.