The Vickers machine gun, chambered in .303 British, was the standard synchronized weapon of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during WWI. In France, however, the gun was also adopted in limited numbers, particularly before French production of the Hispano-Suiza–synchronized 7.7 mm and 8 mm weapons fully ramped up.

To suit French cockpit layouts and synchronization systems, the Vickers was modified with extended cocking/loading handles. These extensions allowed pilots to charge or clear the gun more easily, as French aircraft often had tighter cockpit spaces or placed the gun deeper into the fuselage than British designs.

Aircraft commonly fitted with the French-modified Vickers (Extended Handle)

• SPAD S.VII – some early aircraft were armed with a single Vickers, before the installation of twin guns became common.
• SPAD S.XIII – used twin synchronized Vickers; extended cocking handles were often fitted for accessibility.
• Nieuport 17, 24, 27 – typically carried a single synchronized Vickers; the French modification with extended handle was frequently employed.

Historical significance

The French-modified extended loading handle was a practical cockpit adaptation that improved combat readiness. French installations of the Vickers sometimes differed from British ones in placement and synchronization gear (often the Alkan-Hamy or Birkigt systems instead of the British Constantinesco gear). Because of this, modifications like extended cocking handles were necessary to make the gun more usable in action.

This adaptation ensured that French-built fighters like the SPADs and Nieuports, as well as two-seaters such as the Breguet 14, could use the Vickers effectively until indigenous alternatives were standardized.{{freeshipping_code_1}}{{payment}}