many of which were later converted into Valentias. Operational history Deliveries of the Victoria III started on 23 February 1926, with the type replacing Vernons and Vimys with 70 Squadron in Iraq and 216 Squadron in Egypt that year. Eight Victorias of 70 Squadron played an important part in the Kabul Airlift of November 1928–February 1929, when in severe winter conditions, RAF aircraft evacuated diplomatic staff and their dependents together with members of the Afghan royal family endangered by a civil war. Victorias were used to ferry troops to potential trouble spots in Iraq and elsewhere, flying reinforcements to Palestine in 1929 and Jordan in 1930 and from Egypt to Cyprus in 1931. The Victorias of the two operational squadrons also made a number of long range training flights, such as return trips from Cairo to Aden in 1931, and helped to pioneer air routes for Imperial Airways' Handley Page HP.42 airliners. One Victoria was used as a blind flying trainer by the Central Flying School, being fitted with two sets of controls and instruments in a blanked off cabin. The Victoria continued in service until 1935, although many were converted to Valentias, which remained in use until well into the Second World War. Variants Type 56 Victoria Mk I The first prototype. Powered by two Napier Lion IAX W12 engines. Type 81 Victoria Mk II The second prototype. Type 117 Victoria Mk III The first production version. Military transport aircraft for the RAF. Powered by 450 hp Napier Lion II engines. 46 built. Type 145 Victoria Mk IV Metal wing structure. One prototype powered by Bristol Jupiter radials. Thirteen Lion-engined conversions from earlier marks. Type 169 Victoria Mk V New production aircraft with metal structure, powered by two Napier Lion XIB engines. 37 new-built. Type 262 Victoria Mk VI Final production - powered by Bristol Pegasus IIL3 engines instead of Lions. 11 new-build, 23 by conversion. Operators Royal Air Force No. 70 Squadron RAF (1924-1935 at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq) No. 216 Squadron RAF (1925-1935 at RAF Heliopolis, Egypt) Specifications (Victoria V) See also References Citations Bibliography Sims, Charles. "Talkback". Air Enthusiast. No. 13, August–November 1980. p. 79. 1920s British military transport aircraft Victoria Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1922 Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft