Viking (Total: 9, Canadian: 8, Group 0)

Vickers Viking

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643581)
Canadian Vickers Viking Mk. IV, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYEV, Victoria Beach, 1923

The Viking was a single-engine amphibious pusher biplane.  Viking amphibians were built by Canadian Vickers Limited, a subsidiary company in Montreal, Quebec, with no previous aircraft manufacturing experience.  Their involvement with the Viking led to a future line of indigenous flying boats beginning with the Canadian Vickers Vedette.  Two Type 85 (Viking Mk. IV) delivered from Britain in 1923, followed by six aircraft built in Canada by Canadian Vickers at Montreal.

Canadian Vickers Viking Mk. IV (8), RCAF Reg. Nos. G-CYES, G-CYET, G-CYEU, G-CYEV, G-CYEW, G-CYEX, G-CYEY, G-CYEZ. Harold A Skaarup Web Page

A 7/8 scale replica is on display at the Alberta Aviation Museum.

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Wikipedia Wikipedia Vickers Viking

unvetted Source Vickers Viking IV at Alberta Aviation Museum

Viking GCYES, IV

s/n GCYES

c/n 28/CV7

Vickers-Armstrong

G-CYES

Airframe shipped unflown from UK. RCAF supplied engines installed by Canadian Vickers during build-up. Taken on strength on 15 June 1923. Used by 3 (Operations) Squadron at Rockcliffe and Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 1925. Struck off strength on 2 July 1925, after a crash.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-June-15 Taken on Strength First flight, in Canada. 2020-09-19
   1925-July-02 Struck off Strength Written off after crash. 2020-09-19
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

Viking GCYET, IV

s/n GCYET

c/n 27/CV8

Vickers-Armstrong

G-CYET

Airframe shipped unflown from UK. RCAF supplied engines installed by Canadian Vickers during build-up. Taken on strength on 12 July 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Surveyed northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, including operations from Pelican River and Rabbit River, Saskatchewan, summer of 1924. Wheels removed for this operation, to reduce weight. Apparently was first aircraft to ever visit Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, during this mission. Returned to Victoria Beach on 14 August 1924, having covered 2,810 miles in 44:10 flying time. Broke an aileron control rod in flight over Manitoba on 4 September 1926. Crew made successful forced landing, and fabricated new rod from birch pole. Continued survey mission after this. Broke up after exiting cloud in steep dive on 11 July 1927 near Hilbre Manitoba, apparently had entered IFR conditions inadvertently. Aircraft struck off RCAF strength on 18 October 1927.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-June-24 First Flight First flight, in Canada. 2019-08-20
   1923-July-12 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1927-July-11 Accident Category A Hull broke up in flight near Hilbre, Manitoba, 3 fatalities (2 RCAF and one civil servant surveyor). 2025-04-17
   1927-October-18 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

Viking GCYEU, IV

s/n GCYEU

c/n CV1

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEU

Eagle

First aircraft manufactured by Canadian Vickers. Used RAF surplus Eagle engines, received as part of the Imperial Gift. Taken on strength on 24 July 1923. Christened at launching ceremony on 25 July 1923 by Mrs. G.J. Desbarets, wife of the then Deputy Minister of Defense. Acceptance testing by J.L. Gordon and E.W. Stedman, would both become Air Marshals in the next war. Based at Victoria Beach, Manitoba. With 4 Photo Detachment in summer of 1928, under command of Flying Officer (later Air Marshal) Slemon. Unserviceable with broken oil scavenger line at Big River, Saskatchewan in September of that year. Later tested to destruction at Winnipeg in 1931, following several hull failures on RCAF Vikings. The last survivng Viking, it had about 800 hours airframe time when withdrawn from use and struck off strength on 4 May 1931.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-July-24 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1923-July-25 First Flight Launching ceremony and first flight at Vickers Basin, Montreal. 2019-08-20
   1931-May-04 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

Viking GCYEV, IV

s/n GCYEV

c/n CV2

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEV

Taken on Strength on 15 August 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Also used at Cormorant Lake. Transported by road through Winnipeg on 19 September 1923, for winter storage in a rented garage. Struck off strength on 20 February 1931, as one of the last Vikings still in service.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-August-15 Taken on Strength 2020-09-19
   1931-February-20 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

Viking GCYEW, IV

s/n GCYEW

c/n CV3

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEW

Taken on strength on 31 August 1923. Used at Jericho Beach Air Station, probably from 1923. Noted as serviceable at Vancouver, in the week ending on 6 January 1924. Transferred to Victoria Beach, Manitoba (north of Winnipeg) in spring of 1925. Crashed there on 31 July 1926. Hull broke in two on takeoff, one of several such accidents with the Viking IV. Struck off strength on 15 October 1926.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-August-31 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1926-July-31 Accident Category A Crashed during takeoff due to hull failure. 2025-04-17
   1926-October-15 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197

Viking GCYEX, IV

s/n GCYEX

c/n CV4

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEX

Taken on strength on 3 October 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Seen at Victoria Beach, Manitoba, 28 May 1924. At Cormorant Lake Sub-Base in 1925. Crashed somewhere in Manitoba on 25 August 1929. Struck off strength by 15 November 1929.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-October-03 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1929-August-25 Accident Category A Manitoba 2025-04-17
   1929-November-15 Struck off Strength 2025-04-17
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197

Viking GCYEY, IV

s/n GCYEY

c/n CV5

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEY

Taken on strength on 17 October 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Victoria Beach, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Crashed on landing after a float dug into ground at Kashabowie Lake, Ontario. Hull broke in two pieces. Struck off strength on 24 August 1926. Also reported as struck off on 22 July 1926, which was potentially the crash date.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-October-17 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1926-July-22 Accident Category A Dug in a float on landing at Kashabowie Lake, Ontario. Hull broke in two. 2025-04-17
   1926-August-24 Struck off Strength 2025-04-17
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197

Viking GCYEZ, IV

s/n GCYEZ

c/n CV6

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEZ

Taken on strength on 9 November 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Victoria Beach, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Seen at Lac du Bonnet sub-base in 1927. Struck off strength on 28 August 1930.
last update: 2025-April-17
   1923-November-09 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1930-August-28 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197