Handley Page Hyderabad

infobox Aircraft
name = Hyderabad
type = Heavy Bomber
manufacturer = Handley Page

---

caption =
designer =
first flight = October 1923
introduced = 1925
retired = 1933
status =
primary user = Royal Air Force
produced =
number built = 44
unit cost =
developed from = Handley Page W.8
variants with their own articles = Handley Page Hinaidi The Handley Page H.P.24 Hyderabad was a British twin engined biplane heavy bomber built by Handley Page which served with the Royal Air Force between 1925 and 1933. It was the last wooden heavy bomber to serve with the RAF.

Design and development

The Hyderabad was a development of the Handley Page W.8 airliner, initially designated the W.8D, to meet Air Ministry Specification 31/22 for a replacement for the Vickers Vimy for the Royal Air Force Citation | last =Mason | first =Francis K | year =1994 | title =The British Bomber since 1914 | place =London | publisher =Putnam Aeronautical Books| pages= p.152-154 | isbn = ISBN 0 85177 861 5] .

The Hyderabad was structurally similar to the W.8, and was an all wooden, three bay biplane powered by two Napier Lion engines. It was fitted with a single fin and rudder, and was one of the first large aircraft to be fitted with Handley Page leading edge slats, giving good lateral stability Citation | last=Thetford|first=Owen|year=1957|title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57| edition=1st edition| place=London | publisher=Putnam | pages=242-243 | id= | url=] . A single prototype W.8D was ordered by the Air Ministry in January 1923, first flying in October 1923 and was delivered to Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A & AEE) at Martlesham Heath for evaluation against the Vickers Virginia . On the basis of this evaluation, the aircraft, now called the Hyderabad was ordered for use by the RAF .

Operational history

The Hyderabad entered service with No. 99 (Bomber) Squadron RAF at RAF Bircham Newton in December 1925 , replacing the single engined Avro Aldershot bomber. Deliveries were slow, and accidental losses were high, with a second squadron, No. 10 Squadron RAF at RAF Upper Heyford only forming in 1928 . In 1928 and 1929, two Special Reserve squadrons were formed. The two regular squadrons were re-equipped with the Handley Page Hinaidi, an all metal development of the Hyderabad in 1931, with the final reserve Squadron, No 503, continuing in service until 1933 .

Operators

;UK
* Royal Air Force
**No. 10 Squadron RAF
**No. 99 Squadron RAF
**No 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF Special Reserve
**No 503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAF Special Reserve

pecifications (Hyderabad)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=The British Bomber since 1914

crew=Four
capacity=
length main= 59 ft 2 in
length alt= 18.04 m
span main= 75 ft 0 in
span alt= 22.87 m
height main= 16 ft 9 in
height alt= 5.11 m
area main= 1,471 ft²
area alt= 136.7 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 8,910 lb
empty weight alt= 4,050 kg
loaded weight main= 13,590 lb
loaded weight alt= 6,177 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Napier Lion V or VA
type of prop= twelve cylinder, water cooled broad arrow engine
number of props=2
power main= 500 hp
power alt= 373 kW
power original=
max speed main= 95 knots
max speed alt= 109 mph, 175 km/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 435 nm
range alt= 500 mi, 805 km
ceiling main= 14,000 ft
ceiling alt= 4,270 m
climb rate main= 800 ft/min
climb rate alt= 4.1 m/s
loading main= 9.24 lb/ft²
loading alt= 45.2 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.074 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.12 kW/kg
more performance=

armament=
* 3 x .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Guns in nose, dorsal and ventral positions
* 1,100 lb bombs carried externally

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related= *Handley Page W.8
*Handley Page Hinaidi
*Handley Page Clive
similar aircraft=*Vickers Vimy
*Vickers Virginia
lists=*List of aircraft of the RAF

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Barnes, C. H. "Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907". London: Putnam & Company, Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-85177-803-8.
* Clayton, Donald C. "Handley Page, an Aircraft Album". Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1969. ISBN 0-7110-0094-8.

External links

[http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/handley_hyderabad.php Virtual Aircraft Museum]
[http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=218 British Aircraft Directory]