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The Handley Page HP42/HP45 Biplane History
Designed by British aircraft
manufacturer Handley Page Aircraft, to a 1928 specification provided by
Imperial Airways, the Handley Page HP42 and HP45 were two cabin
civilian airliners that became the mainstay of Imperial Airways. The
Handley Page HP42s (known by Imperial Airlines as HP42E) were based in Cairo,
Egypt, and used for Eastern services between England, Africa and
India. The Handley Page HP45s (known by Imperial Airlines as HP42W) were
slightly different in layout as they flew the Western, or European,
routes with more passengers but with less luggage space and a smaller
range. Each of the Handley Page HP42/HP45 biplanes had four engines, two mounted on the upper wing and
two mounted on the lower wings. The lower wing engines were mounted
either side of the fuselage.
The construction of the Handley Page HP42/HP45 was metal, with
the exception of the wings which were covered with fabric.
The Handley Page HP42/HP45 Biplane
Operations History
Eight of these Handley Page aircraft were produced in total, four of
each type. Several of them went into service with the Royal Air
Force during WW2, however none of them survived beyond 1940.
Handley Page HP42s
Hannibal (G-AAGX) was the prototype and first flew on
November 14, 1930. Following early damage caused during a forced
landing in Kent on August 8, 1931, Hannibal was taken by road to
Croydon Airport and repaired. Hannibal was lost over the Gulf of
Oman on March 1, 1940, while in the service of the Royal Air Force.
Horsa (G-AAUC) first flew on September 11, 1931. Horsa was
also in the service of the Royal Air Force when she burned after a
forced landing at Moresby Parks, Cumberland, on August 7, 1940.
Hanno (G-AAUD) first flew on July 19, 1931, and was later
converted to an HP45. Hanno, which appears in the documentary ‘Air
Outpost’ by the Strand Film Company, went into service with the
Royal Air Force and was destroyed in a gale at Whitchurch Airport
Bristol, on March 19, 1940, when blown together with Heracles.
Hadrian (G-AAUE) – First flew on June 24, 1931. Hadrian also
served with the Royal Air Force and was damaged beyond repair in a
gale at Doncaster Airport, on December 6, 1940.
Handley Page HP45s
Heracles (G-AAXC) first flew on August 8, 1931. As with
Hanno, Heracles was in service with the Royal Air Force and was
destroyed in a gale at Whitchurch Airport Bristol, on March 19,1940,
when blown together with Hanno.
Horatius (G-AAXD) first flew on November 6, 1931, and later
survived a lightning strike, while crossing the English Channel on a
flight from Paris to London. Horatius was destroyed during an
emergency landing at Tiverton golf course, Devon, on November 7,
1939. She was returning from a mission in the service of the RAF.
Hengist (G-AAXE) first flew on December 8, 1931, and was
later converted to a Handley Page HP42. Hengist was burned in an airship
hangar fire on May 31, 1937.
Helena (G-AAXF) first flew on December 30, 1931, and was also
later converted to a Handley Page HP42. Helena served with the RAF’s 271
Squadron before being grounded and condemned, due to corrosion, late
in 1940.
Various scale
models, model kits and plans of the Handley Page HP42.45 have been
available in the market place.
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Biplane Specifications:
Crew: 4
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Passenger Capacity: 24
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Length: 92ft 2in (28.09m)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Wingspan: 130ft 0in (39.62m)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Height: 27ft 0in (8.23m)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Wing area: 2,989ft² (278.0 m²)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Empty weight: 17,740lb (8,047kg)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Max takeoff weight: 28,000lb (12,700kg)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Engine: 4 x Bristol Jupiter XIF 9-cylinder radial engines,
490 hp (365 kW) each
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Maximum speed: 120mph (193 km/h)
Handley Page HP42/HP45
Range: 500 mi (805 km)
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