Canadian Vickers Vedette

Canadian Vickers Vedette
General information
Typeamphibious general aviation survey
ManufacturerCanadian Vickers
Designer
Wilfrid Thomas Reid (preliminary study by R.K.Pierson)
Primary usersRoyal Canadian Air Force
Number built60 (plus two replicas)
History
Manufactured1924–1930
Introduction date1925
First flight4 November 1924
Retired1941

The Canadian Vickers Vedette was the first aircraft designed and built in Canada to meet a specification for Canadian conditions. It was a single-engine biplane flying boat purchased to meet a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) demand for a smaller aircraft than the Vickers Viking with a much greater rate of climb, to be suitable for forestry survey and fire protection work. The type went on to have a long and distinguished career in civil operations in Canada. Most of the topographical maps in use in Canada today are based on photos taken from these aircraft.