In January 1919 Vickers began development of the its well-known Vimy design for civil use, introducing in the Vimy Commercial a new larger-diameter fuselage to provide a cabin for 10 passengers and retaining the powerplant of two Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines. The prototype, first flown on 13th April 1919, was followed by 43 production aircraft for China (40) and one each for the Instone Air line, Grands Express Aériens and the USSR; five generally similar aircraft, but incorporating a nose loading door, were completed as Vimy Ambulance aircraft for the RAF and equipped to accommodate four stretchers or eight sitting patients, plus two medical attendants.