Canadian Vickers Varuna

Varuna G-CYZT was one of seven Mk. II versions in the RCAF and it served from 11 May, 1927 to 9 October, 1930 when it sufferred a Category B accident. The remainder of the fleet was struck off strength only two months later. The Varuna IIs all spent their working lives in the province of Manitoba except for 'ZV which crashed at Fredericton, New Brunswick, on 9 November, 1927, while stationed at the Dartmouth Air Station in Nova Scotia. Their poor performance restricted them to flying only from large bodies of water and continued to plague their crews until the end of their careers.
CF Photo

G-CYZR was a Canadian Vickers Varuna II serving at Ladder Lake, Saskatchewan. As can readily be seen in this photo with both Aircraft types present in close proximity, the description of the Varuna as an enlarged Vedette is accurate to a large degree. The hull structure was the same as was the tail, the cockpit forward of the wing held two pilots side by side while the one in the nose was a single occupancy equipped for photography. There was also a center-section cockpit holding two men and another aft of the wing.
CF Photo

G-CYGV was the prototype and sole Varuna Mk. I produced by Canadian Vickers, however, as a result of the RCAF trials a new specification for the production of the Varuna II was drawn up and seven were ordered. 'GV served at Rockcliffe, Ontario until the end of 1930 when it was put into storage and subsequently struck off strength in 1932.
CF Photo

The Canadian Vickers prototype of the Varuna, the Mk. I, was G-CYGV, whereas the Mk. IIs held serials in the series from CYZP - ZV. Only the single Mk. I was ever constructed, though it had a longer service (2 June, 1926 to 16 November, 1932 at Rockcliffe, Ontario) than the 7 Mk. IIs which were modified to revised RCAF specifications. Trials of the Varuna II showed that the forward hull lines had been improved and the hull now ran very cleanly and left the water easily; in all other respects the Varuna II's performance had deteriorated. This was not surprising as the power had been reduced, and almost all of the changes requested by the RCAF had increased the drag or reduced the lift or both.
CF Photo