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The Handley Page Aircraft Company was founded by Frederick Handley Page in 1909 as the United Kingdom's first publicly traded aircraft manufacturing company. It filed for bankruptcy and ceased to exist in 1970. The company, based at Radlett Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, was noted for producing heavy bombers and large airliners. Image File history File links Handley_Page. ... Image File history File links Handley_Page. ... Sir Frederick Handley Page, (1885-1962) was an English industrialist who pioneered in the design and manufacture of aircraft. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their creditors. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1970: Events January January 31 - Mikhail Mil dies, aged 61 February February 17-18 - US Air Force Laos. ... Radlett is a large village to the north of London between St Albans and Elstree on Watling Street in the Hertsmere district of Hertfordshire, England. ... Hertfordshire (pronounced Hartfordshire and abbreviated as Herts) is an inland county in the United Kingdom, officially part of the East of England Government region. ...

Early History

The Handley Page Cricklewood site in early 1921

Frederick (later Sir Frederick) Handley Page first experimented with and built several biplanes and monoplanes at premises in Woolwich, Fambridge and Barking Creek. His company, Handley Page Ltd, became the first public company to build aircraft when it was founded on 17th June 1909.
In 1912 Handley Page Ltd. established an aircraft factory at Cricklewood after moving from Barking. Aircraft were built there and flown from the company's adjacent air field. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Handley_Page_Limited_-_Cricklewood_Site_In_1921. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Handley_Page_Limited_-_Cricklewood_Site_In_1921. ... Hs123 biplane. ... A monoplane is an aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. ... Woolwich (pronounced Woolitch) is a town in south-east London, England in the London Borough of Greenwich, on the south side of the River Thames, though the tiny exclave of North Woolwich (which is now part of the London Borough of Newham) is on the north side of the river. ... Barking is the principal town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1912 was a leap year starting on Monday. ... Cricklewood is a district whose northeastern part is in the London Borough of Barnet, and the southwestern part is the London Borough of Brent and the southeastern part is in London Borough of Camden. ... Barking is the principal town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. ...

World War I

During the First World War Handley Page produced a series of bombers for the Royal Navy to bomb the German Zeppelin yards, with the ultimate intent of bombing Berlin in revenge for the Zeppelin attacks on London. These aircraft included the O/100, the O/400 and the four engined V/1500 with the range to reach Berlin. The V/1500 only just reached operational service as the war ended in 1918. World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machine guns, and poison gas World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, the War of the Nations and... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... LZ127 Graf Zeppelin, the most travelled airship in history A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship (or dirigible) pioneered by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century based on an earlier design by David Schwarz. ... The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. ... The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. ... Handley Page V/1500 heavy bomber The Handley Page V/1500 was an uprated design from the O/400 with the intention of bombing Berlin from England. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

In the immediate post-war years, Handley Page modified a number of O/400's to passenger use, which they flew on the London-Paris route as Handley Page Transport. The V/1500 was considered too large to be practical at the time, but a number of design features of the V/1500 were later incorporated into a O/400 airframe to produce their first dedicated passenger design, the W.8. In 1924 Handley Page Transport merged with two other regional airlines to create Imperial Airways, England's first national airline service. Handley Page developed several large biplane airliners, including the 12 luxurious Handley Page H.P.42, for use on Imperial routes to Africa and India. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... The Imperial Airways Empire Terminal, Victoria, London. ... Hs123 biplane. ... Handley Page H.P.42 G-AAUD Hanno. ...

Handley Page also paid for the development of what soon became known as the Handley Page Slat (or slot), a small channel cut into the leading edge of the wing to improve airflow at high angles of attack. The design was so successful that licensing fees to other companies was their main source of income in the early 1920s.
In this diagram, the black arrow represents the direction of the wind. ...

In 1929 the airfield at Cricklewood was closed and a new one built at Radlett where most aircraft were now to be contructed however the construction of aircraft at Cricklewood continued until 1964 when the premises were sold to become the Cricklewood trading estate.

World War II

With the spectre of the Second World War looming, Handley Page turned back to bomber design, and produced the Hampden, which took part in the first British raid on Berlin. In response to government request for heavier, longer ranged aircraft Handley Page produced the Halifax which after the Lancaster was the most prolific British heavy bomber, and considered by some to be to a superior aircraft. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force that was one of the main front-line bombers at the start of World War II. Along with the Whitley and Wellington bombers, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war... Wingspan Height 20 ft 9 in 6. ... The Avro Lancaster was a four-engine World War II bomber aircraft made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force (RAF). ...

After the war the British government sought tenders for jet bombers to carry Britain's atomic bomb. The three types produced were known as the V-Bombers, and Handley Page's contribution was the Victor, a four engined crescent winged design. This aircraft remained in service (as a tanker aircraft) well beyond the demise of the company which created it. The term V bomber was used for the Royal Air Force aircraft during the 1950s and 1960s that comprised the UKs strategic nuclear strike force. ... The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the V bombers intended to carry Britains nuclear arsenal. ...

In 1947 Handley Page bought some of the assets of the bankrupt Miles Aircraft company. These assets include existing designs, tools and jigs, and the Miles Reading site at Woodley. The most significant of the inherited designs was the Herald airliner. 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Miles Aircraft was a British manufacturer of light civil and military aircraft. ... St Marys Church and market Reading is a town and unitary authority in Berkshire in England, at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, halfway between London and Oxford. ... The Handley Page Herald first flew on the 25th August 1955, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, UK. Designed to replace the Douglas DC-3, it was powered by 4 Alvis Leonides Major piston engines, driving 3-blade propellers. ...

One of the final notable Handley Page designs was the Jetstream, this was a small commuter turboprop aircraft, with a pressurised cabin and a passenger capacity of 12 to 18. It was designed primarily for the United States feederliner market. Although Handley Page was wound up as a company, the Jetstream lived on as a successful product, being produced at the old Scottish Aviation factory at Prestwick, first by Scottish Aviation, then by British Aerospace. The Handley Page HP.137 Jetstream was a small twin turboprop airliner, with a pressurised fuselage, designed to meet the requirements of the United States feederliner and regional airline market. ... SN Brussels Airlines Avro RJ85 regional jet A regional jet (RJ) is a small short-range jet aircraft that is intended to fly passengers from smaller airports to larger ones, thereby feeding the larger hubs with passengers. ... Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer, England, 2003. ... The town of Prestwick is located in the central west coast of Scotland in the region of southern Ayrshire. ... British Aerospace (BAe) was a UK aircraft manufacturer, now part of BAE Systems. ...

Radlett Aerodrome

Opened in 1929 as a grass aerodrome for Handley Page Civil Aircraft, the runway was extended in 1939 to enable production of Halifax bombers. Most of the towers, hangers and runways were demolished in the 1970s after the Company went bankrupt. The M25 Motorway now stands on the south of the site, with Lafarge Aggregates now owning the remainder. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Lafarge ( NYSE: LF) is a major French industrial company specializing in building products, including concrete. ...

Note on Handley Page Type Designations

Handley Page originally used a letter progression to designate types i.e. R, S, T, U, V, W etc, with a number (that may or may not have been meaningful to designate sub-types, e.g. the O/100 indicated the type's 100 foot wingspan). In 1924, Handley Page moved from the letter/number (or letter.number), to the H.P.number type designation. Thus the W/400 is also known as the H.P.16, and the W.8 is also known as the H.P.18. The H.P.R.number indicates that the design originated in the Reading design office. 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... St Marys Church and market Reading is a town and unitary authority in Berkshire in England, at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, halfway between London and Oxford. ...

Aircraft Designs (chronologically)

• O/100
• O/400
• V/1500
• W.8
• W.9
• W.10
• Handley Page H.P.42/H.P.45
• Handley Page Heyford
• Hampden
• Halifax
• Hastings
• Hermes
• Herald
• Dart Herald
• Victor

The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. ... The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. ... Handley Page V/1500 heavy bomber The Handley Page V/1500 was an uprated design from the O/400 with the intention of bombing Berlin from England. ... Handley Page H.P.42 G-AAUD Hanno. ... The Handley Page Heyford was a British biplane bomber of the 1930s. ... The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force that was one of the main front-line bombers at the start of World War II. Along with the Whitley and Wellington bombers, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Handley Page Herald first flew on the 25th August 1955, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, UK. Designed to replace the Douglas DC-3, it was powered by 4 Alvis Leonides Major piston engines, driving 3-blade propellers. ... The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the V bombers intended to carry Britains nuclear arsenal. ...

Designation Series

The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. ... The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. ... Handley Page V/1500 heavy bomber The Handley Page V/1500 was an uprated design from the O/400 with the intention of bombing Berlin from England. ... The Handley Page Heyford was a British biplane bomber of the 1930s. ... The Handley Page Heyford was a British biplane bomber of the 1930s. ... The Handley Page H.P.39 was a wooden biplane design of the late 1920s. ... Handley Page H.P.42 G-AAUD Hanno. ... Handley Page H.P.42 G-AAUD Hanno. ... The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force that was one of the main front-line bombers at the start of World War II. Along with the Whitley and Wellington bombers, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war... The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force that was one of the main front-line bombers at the start of World War II. Along with the Whitley and Wellington bombers, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Handley Page HP 67 Hastings was a troop-carrier and freight transport of the Royal Air Force. ... The Manx during testing, 1943. ... The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the V bombers intended to carry Britains nuclear arsenal. ... The Handley Page HP.88 was a British research aircraft, built to test the aerodynamics of the Handley Page Victor design and was essentially a scaled-down version of that aircraft. ... The Handley Page HP.137 Jetstream was a small twin turboprop airliner, with a pressurised fuselage, designed to meet the requirements of the United States feederliner and regional airline market. ... The Handley Page Herald first flew on the 25th August 1955, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, UK. Designed to replace the Douglas DC-3, it was powered by 4 Alvis Leonides Major piston engines, driving 3-blade propellers. ... The Handley Page Herald first flew on the 25th August 1955, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, UK. Designed to replace the Douglas DC-3, it was powered by 4 Alvis Leonides Major piston engines, driving 3-blade propellers. ... The Handley Page Herald first flew on the 25th August 1955, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, UK. Designed to replace the Douglas DC-3, it was powered by 4 Alvis Leonides Major piston engines, driving 3-blade propellers. ...

External links

A short history of the company written for the Centennial of Flight:

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Handley-page/Aero51.htm

An enthusiast web site dedicated to the company:

http://www.handleypage.com/