The Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant was a British four-jet bomber, once part of the Royal Air Force's V bomber nuclear force in the 1950s and 1960s. The Valiant was originally developed for use as high-level strategic bomber, but its role, like other V bombers, was changed to low-level attacks.

Low-level flying brought a number of serious problems as the Valiant's wing spar attachment castings showed premature fatiguing and inter-crystalline corrosion traced to the use of an inappropriate type of aluminium alloy. The Valiant had been the first of the V bombers to become operational, and its role was already shifting to that of a tanker. Rather than repair or rebuild the fleet, the Valiant was grounded and the Handley Page Victor took over the tanker role.

Pictured here is a 1:144 scale diecast replica of a RAF Vickers Valiant B Mk1 strategic bomber that was attached to 207 Squadron, then deployed to Luqa, Malta, and involved in the Suez Crisis of 1956. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 11 inches
Length: 11.25 inches

Release Date: January 2013

Historical Account: "The Canal Zone" - Following President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nassers decision on 26th July 1956 to nationalise the Suez Canal, Britain, France and Israel all declared war on Egypt almost simultaneously on October 25th 1956.

While carrier borne aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm struck at various targets throughout the Canal Zone, it was left to the RAF to attack Egyptian bases and installations further afield. It was during these attacks that the RAFs V bomber force first saw action, rather than a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. The force attacked Egyptian airfields dropping conventional bombs on their runways and taxiways, putting them briefly out of action. This machine attacked Kabrit on the night of October 31st.

The Valiant, while being the most conventional of the three V bombers, also saw the shortest amount of service. Proved to be unsuited to the low level role, the V bomber force was transferred in the early 1960s, suffering fatigue cracks in its wing spars. The fleet was retired in 1964.