The next model in the collection is Vultee V-11GB called by FAB aviators in the time of "Vultizão" or big Vultee (FAB operated in same time Vultee Valiant BT-13/15 called "Vultizinho" or Smaller Vultee).
The attack bomber Vultee V-11 was developed from the passenger transport aircraft Vultee V-1A, taking advantage of the wings, landing gear and rear surfaces; the fuselage was semi-monocoque, of elliptical section and an extensive canopy covered the cabin for two crew members. The aircraft was equipped with a .30-inch machine gun on each wing and another, mobile, of the same caliber, operated by the machine gun on the rear seat; it was capable of carrying 1,100lb of bombs, in an internal fuselage bay and under the wings. The V-11 was equipped with a radial engine Wright SR-1820-F53 Cyclone, of 750HP, with propeller bipá; the V-11A version was equipped with a tripod propeller. Thirty V-11A aircraft were purchased by China; some of these aircraft received 850HP Wright R-1820-G2 Cyclone engines locally, and came to be designated as V-11G. The Chinese V-11s were used by the 14th Squadron, a unit of foreign mercenary pilots based in Hangzhou, who engaged Japanese troops in 1938.
The V-11GB was the next version, now with three crew members: pilot, machine gun and bomber, which aimed to launch bombs through a window on the floor. The bomber also operated a .30-inch machine gun positioned behind him, in the belly of the aircraft. The frontal armament was increased to two .30-inch machine guns on each wing and the aircraft was capable of carrying 1,000lb of bombs over a distance of 2,400 miles. Four V-11GB were purchased by the Soviet Union in 1936, from which 31 copies of a local version, called BSh-1, were produced; their poor performance meant that they were used as postal planes (PS-43) and, during the Great Patriotic War, as connecting aircraft, being decommissioned in 1947.
In 1938, the Military Aviation of the Brazilian Army acquired 26 copies of the V-11 GB2 version, which received registrations 105 to 130. The latter was modified by Vultee, equipped with floats and offered to the Naval Aviation of the Brazilian Navy, however it has not been acquired.
The V-11 GB2, known as "Vultizões", equipped the 1st Aviation Regiment, based in Santa Cruz-RJ. On November 8, 1939, one of these aircraft, piloted by Maj. Clóvis Monteiro Travassos, 1º-Ten. Oswaldo Carneiro Lima (navigator) and 2º-Sgt. Alfredo Amaral Barcelos (mechanic), made a direct flight between Fortaleza and Porto Alegre, covering 3,240 km in 11h45min.
With the creation of the Ministry of Aeronautics in 1941, the remaining 24 aircraft were incorporated into the FAB. During World War II, these aircraft were used in anti-submarine patrol missions. On August 26, 1942, the V-11 GB2 '122' aircraft, headquartered in the 3rd Aviation Regiment, in Canoas-RS, and manned by the 1st-Ten.-Av. Alfredo Gonçalves Corrêa (pilot), Asp.-Av. Manuel Poerner Mazeron (bomber) and sergeant Carlos Zell (radiographer and machine gun), surprised a submarine at the height of Araranguá, coast of Paraná, 50 miles from the coast. In the attack, carried out at 2:00 pm, three 250lb bombs were dropped; the shrapnel of one of them damaged the speed ring and exhaust manifold of the V-11 GB2, which caused the crew to land in emergency at the Osório-RS aerodrome. On the 28th of the same month, the Vultee V-11 GB2 '7', piloted by Cap.-Av. Manuel Rogério de Souza Coelho, attacked a submarine at the height of Iguape (SP), without achieving visible damage.
With the end of the war, the "Vultizões" were deactivated in 1946.
My model is designed by Carlos Liberatto in 2006/7 is a free model since the original site "FAB in Paper" not exist I put in Download Area. Gerry papermodels repaint this model to represent a chinese V11G, you get in Ecardmodels , is a free model too.
Until the next
