Handley Page Limited

Handley Page Limited was a British aerospace manufacturer established by Frederick Handley Page on 17 June 1909. It became the first British public company formed to build aircraft and developed a long-running reputation for technically ambitious designs, particularly large bombers, military transports, and airliners. The company operated through successive eras of aviation development, from early experimental biplanes and monoplanes through First World War heavy bombers, interwar passenger aircraft, Second World War bombers, postwar military transports, and jet aircraft. The company's early work was conducted at premises in Woolwich, Fambridge, and Barking Creek before production moved to Cricklewood in 1912. Its adjacent Cricklewood Aerodrome supported both manufacturing and flight testing. During the First World War, Handley Page designed heavy aircraft for the Royal Navy, including the O/100 and O/400 bombers and the four-engined V/1500. These aircraft reflected the period's strategic ambition to attack distant enemy targets and helped establish the company as a producer of unusually large aircraft. After the war, Handley Page adapted military aircraft for civil transport and created Handley Page Transport. Its W-series airliners served routes including London–Paris and were later used by Imperial Airways after Handley Page Transport became part of the new national airline in 1924. The company also developed the HP.42, a large and relatively luxurious biplane airliner used on long-distance Imperial routes to Africa and India. Another important contribution was the Handley Page leading-edge slat, an aerodynamic device that improved low-speed handling and high-angle-of-attack performance. Licensing income from the slat became a significant source of revenue during the 1920s. Handley Page's Second World War contribution included the HP.52 Hampden medium bomber and the HP.57 Halifax, one of Britain's principal four-engined heavy bombers. The Halifax was produced in large numbers and later adapted for transport, paratroop, and glider-tug duties. Following the war, the company participated in Britain's strategic jet-bomber programme with the HP.80 Victor, a distinctive crescent-wing aircraft that entered Royal Air Force service as one of the V-bombers. The Victor later served for many years as an aerial refuelling tanker. In 1947, Handley Page acquired assets of the failed Miles Aircraft company, including design resources and the Woodley site near Reading. The resulting Handley Page (Reading) operation contributed designs such as the Marathon and the Herald airliner. The company maintained separate designations for Reading projects, using the HPR prefix. Handley Page remained independent while other major British aircraft manufacturers consolidated under government and industrial pressure. This independence became increasingly difficult to sustain as the British aerospace sector concentrated around Hawker Siddeley and the British Aircraft Corporation. The company's final major design was the Jetstream, a pressurised twin-turboprop commuter aircraft intended largely for the United States feederliner market. Although the aircraft was commercially promising, its development arrived too late to restore the company's finances. Handley Page entered voluntary liquidation in March 1970 and was subsequently wound up after 61 years of trading. The Jetstream design was acquired and continued in production by Scottish Aviation, later forming part of British Aerospace.

Frederick Handley Page began experimenting with aircraft before the company bearing his name was established. Early work took place at several locations, including Woolwich, Fambridge, and Barking Creek. On 17 June 1909 he founded Handley Page Limited, making it the first British public company dedicated to aircraft construction. The business moved to Cricklewood in 1912, where it established a factory beside Cricklewood Aerodrome. The site supported production, assembly, and flight testing and later became associated with the film industry after being sold and converted into Cricklewood Studios. The First World War gave Handley Page an opportunity to pursue aircraft much larger than most earlier British designs. At the request of the Admiralty, the company developed heavy bombers intended to attack German Zeppelin facilities and other distant targets. The O/100 appeared in 1915, followed by the improved O/400 in 1918. The four-engined V/1500 was designed with enough range to reach Berlin, although it entered service only as the war was ending. Wartime production at Radlett included substantial female employment, reflecting the wider mobilization of industrial labour. The postwar period forced the company to seek civil applications for its military technology. Handley Page Transport operated converted O/400 aircraft on the London–Paris route and developed the W-series of dedicated airliners. The W.8 and related aircraft introduced passenger-carrying refinements derived from the company's large bomber experience and were also exported. In 1924 Handley Page Transport merged with other operators to form Imperial Airways. Handley Page continued to design aircraft for the new airline, including the HP.42, a large biplane airliner used on routes to Africa and India. Aerodynamic research became another important part of the business. The Handley Page slat, mounted ahead of the wing's leading edge, created a controlled slot that improved airflow at high angles of attack and made low-speed flight more manageable. Gustav Lachmann worked on related aerodynamic concepts and later joined Handley Page. The company licensed the technology to other manufacturers, and licensing fees became a major revenue stream during the early 1920s. Handley Page closed Cricklewood Aerodrome in 1929 and transferred final aircraft assembly to Radlett Aerodrome, which had opened for civil aircraft operations. Manufacturing of components and subassemblies continued at Cricklewood for decades. Radlett's facilities were later expanded to support wartime Halifax production, including runway improvements that allowed the operation of larger aircraft. In the Second World War, Handley Page produced the HP.52 Hampden and designed the HP.57 Halifax after an earlier twin-engined proposal was reworked when the Rolls-Royce Vulture engine proved unsuitable. The Halifax became the second most numerous British heavy bomber of the war after the Lancaster. It was adapted into transports and glider tugs, including the Halton and other Halifax transport variants, extending the design's usefulness beyond bombing operations. After 1945, the company competed for a role in Britain's nuclear-deterrent aircraft programme. Its answer was the HP.80 Victor, a four-engined aircraft with a distinctive crescent wing. The Victor entered Royal Air Force service as one of the V-bombers and remained useful after the bomber role ended, particularly as an aerial refuelling tanker. In 1947 Handley Page also acquired assets from the failed Miles Aircraft company. The resulting Handley Page (Reading) operation inherited design work, equipment, and the Woodley site, and later produced designs under the HPR designation, including the Marathon and the Herald. The company's final decades were shaped by consolidation in British aerospace. Handley Page resisted pressure to join larger industrial groups, while Hawker Siddeley and the British Aircraft Corporation became the dominant independent manufacturers. Handley Page's last significant new aircraft was the Jetstream, a small pressurised turboprop commuter aircraft intended particularly for the American feederliner market. The design had potential, but development and market entry came too late to reverse the company's financial problems. Handley Page entered voluntary liquidation in March 1970 and was wound up after 61 years. Scottish Aviation acquired the Jetstream design and continued its production; the programme later passed into British Aerospace.

• 1970

  Company liquidated

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Handley Page entered voluntary liquidation in March and ceased to exist after being wound up.

• 1968

  Jetstream developed

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The company developed the Jetstream pressurised turboprop commuter aircraft for the feederliner market.

• 1958

  Victor enters service

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The HP.80 Victor entered Royal Air Force service as part of Britain's V-bomber force.

• 1947

  Miles Aircraft assets acquired

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Handley Page acquired selected Miles Aircraft assets and established the Handley Page (Reading) operation.

• 1940

  Halifax programme begins

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The HP.57 Halifax became a major British heavy bomber programme during the Second World War.

• 1936

  Heavy bomber design competition

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Handley Page submitted the HP.56 twin-engined heavy bomber design, which was later reworked into the four-engined Halifax.

• 1929

  Assembly moves to Radlett

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Cricklewood Aerodrome closed and final aircraft assembly moved to Radlett Aerodrome.

• 1924

  Imperial Airways formed

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Handley Page Transport merged with other airlines to create Imperial Airways.

• 1919

  Atlantic transatlantic attempt

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  A V/1500 was dispatched to Newfoundland for an attempted transatlantic flight and later reached New York via Canada.

• 1918

  V/1500 developed

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The four-engined V/1500 was intended for very long-range bombing, including a potential mission against Berlin.

• 1915

  O/100 heavy bomber

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The O/100 entered the company's sequence of large military bombers developed for the First World War.

• 1912

  Cricklewood factory opened

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The company moved from Barking to a factory at Cricklewood, with an adjacent aerodrome for aircraft operations.

• 1909

  Company founded

  [1]Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Frederick Handley Page established Handley Page Limited on 17 June, creating the first British public company formed to manufacture aircraft.

A technically ambitious British aircraft manufacturer specializing in large aircraft, heavy bombers, civil transports, and advanced aerodynamic solutions.

• First World War heavy bombers · 1915

  O/100 and O/400

  The O/100 and O/400 were large twin-engined bombers developed for British naval and military requirements during the First World War. They represented Handley Page's early specialization in heavy aircraft and long-range bombing. After the war, airframes from the O/400 family were adapted for civil transport use, providing a technical bridge between the company's wartime bomber production and its early airline business.

• Four-engined heavy bomber · 1918

  V/1500

  The V/1500 was a very large four-engined bomber designed near the end of the First World War. Its intended range was sufficient for a possible attack on Berlin, although the aircraft reached operational service only as the conflict was ending. One aircraft, named Atlantic, was subsequently used in an important early transatlantic aviation attempt and later flew to New York via Canada.

• Civil airliners · 1919

  W-series airliners

  The W.8, W.9, and W.10 families were civil transport aircraft derived partly from Handley Page's experience with large military machines. They served Handley Page Transport, were exported to Belgium, and later operated with Imperial Airways. The series helped establish Handley Page as a contributor to the development of organized postwar passenger air transport.

• Large biplane airliner · 1930

  H.P.42

  The H.P.42 was a large, multi-engined biplane airliner developed for Imperial Airways. It was associated especially with long-distance routes to Africa and India and emphasized passenger comfort and capacity rather than speed. The aircraft reflected the interwar preference for dependable large biplanes on imperial routes and became one of Handley Page's best-known civil designs.

• Medium bomber · 1938

  Hampden

  The HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engined medium bomber used by Britain during the early part of the Second World War. Its narrow fuselage and distinctive appearance reflected the design priorities of the period, while its operational history included participation in the first British raid on Berlin. It formed part of Handley Page's transition from interwar bomber development to wartime mass production.

• Four-engined heavy bomber and transport · 1940

  Halifax

  The HP.57 Halifax was Handley Page's principal Second World War heavy bomber. It was created by converting the HP.56 proposal from two engines to four after problems with the Rolls-Royce Vulture. The Halifax was produced in large numbers and served in bombing, transport, paratroop, and glider-tug roles. Its numerous variants extended the aircraft's service well beyond its original bomber mission.

• Strategic jet bomber and aerial tanker · 1952

  Victor

  The HP.80 Victor was a four-engined jet aircraft with a distinctive crescent wing. It was Handley Page's contribution to Britain's postwar V-bomber force and was designed to carry the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent. After its bomber role ended, the Victor continued in Royal Air Force service as an aerial refuelling tanker, outliving the company that designed it.

• Pressurised turboprop commuter aircraft · 1967

  Jetstream

  The Jetstream was a small twin-turboprop commuter aircraft with a pressurised cabin and seating for approximately 12 to 18 passengers. Handley Page designed it primarily for the United States feederliner market. The aircraft was commercially promising but arrived too late to prevent the company's liquidation. Scottish Aviation acquired the design and continued production after Handley Page ceased trading.

• 1970

  Enter voluntary liquidationOther

  Background

  Handley Page could not compete effectively for major government or commercial aircraft programmes while remaining outside the dominant British aerospace groups.

  Action taken

  The company entered voluntary liquidation in March 1970 and was subsequently wound up.

  Aftermath

  The Handley Page corporate entity ceased to exist, although the Jetstream design continued under successor ownership.

  Source

• 1967

  Launch the Jetstream commuter aircraftProduct launch

  Background

  Handley Page sought a commercially viable product for the growing United States feederliner and regional-airline market.

  Action taken

  The company developed a pressurised twin-turboprop aircraft seating approximately 12 to 18 passengers.

  Aftermath

  The Jetstream design survived the company's failure and was produced by Scottish Aviation and later British Aerospace.

  Source

• 1960

  Remain independent during aerospace consolidationStrategy

  Background

  The British aircraft industry became increasingly concentrated around larger groups, particularly Hawker Siddeley and the British Aircraft Corporation.

  Action taken

  Handley Page resisted pressure to merge into a larger aerospace entity and continued pursuing its own aircraft programmes.

  Aftermath

  The company struggled to win sufficient government and commercial orders and ultimately entered liquidation in 1970.

  Source

• 1950

  Develop the Victor for the V-bomber forceStrategy

  Background

  The British government sought jet bombers capable of supporting the country's postwar strategic nuclear deterrent.

  Action taken

  Handley Page designed and produced the HP.80 Victor, a four-engined crescent-wing aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The Victor entered Royal Air Force service and later became a long-serving aerial refuelling tanker.

  Source

• 1947

  Acquire selected Miles Aircraft assetsM&A

  Background

  Miles Aircraft had entered bankruptcy, making its designs, equipment, and facilities available for acquisition.

  Action taken

  Handley Page purchased selected Miles assets and operated them through a Reading-based subsidiary or operation using the HPR designation.

  Aftermath

  The acquired design resources contributed to later civil aircraft work, including the Marathon and Herald programmes.

  Source

• 1924

  Combine Handley Page Transport into Imperial AirwaysM&A

  Background

  The British government and the aviation industry sought a national-scale airline structure for scheduled imperial and international services.

  Action taken

  Handley Page Transport merged with two other airlines to form Imperial Airways, while Handley Page continued supplying aircraft to the new operator.

  Aftermath

  Imperial Airways operated several Handley Page airliner types, including aircraft from the W-series and the H.P.42.

  Source

1. 1Handley Page Limiteden.wikipedia.org