FLIGHT, July 6. 1939.

Manoeuvrability is an outstanding quality of the Wellington.

CEODETICS on the GRAND SCALE

A Detailed Description of the Vickers-Armstrongs Wellington I : Exceptional Range and Large Bomb Capacity : Ingenious Structural Features
(Illustrated mainly with "Flight" Photographs and Sketches)

T is extremely unlikely that any foreign air force possesses bombers with as long a range as that attainable by the Vickers-Armstrongs Wellington I (Type 290), which forms the equipment of a number of squadrons of the Royal Air Force and of which it is now permissible to disclose structural details. The Wellington's capacity for carrying heavy loads over great distances may be directly attributed to the Vickers geodetic system of construction, which proved its worth in the single-engined Wellesley used" as standard equipment in a number of overseas squadrons of the R.A.F. But the qualities of the Wellington are not limited to load-carrying. I t has a top speed of 265 m.p.h. (or considerably more when fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin or Bristol Hercules engines The Wellington, with its extremely long range, has comprehensive tankage arrangements. The tanks (riveted by the De Bergue system) taper in conformity with the wing.

in place of the Pegasus XVIIIs); it has provision for five turreted machine-guns; it is quite exceptionally roomy, and it is amazingly agile in the air. The Bristol Pegasus XVIII engines fitted as standard in