Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford

Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1930 · bomber

The Handley Page Heyford was the last biplane heavy bomber to serve with the Royal Air Force, notable for its unconventional configuration in which the fuselage was faired into the upper wing rather than the lower. This gave the bomb-aimer an unobstructed field of fire beneath the lower wing.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Unique biplane with fuselage attached to upper wing
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Unique biplane with fuselage attached to upper wing
Lower wing carries the main undercarriage
Last RAF biplane heavy bomber

The defining recognition feature is the fuselage carried on top of the upper wing, giving the aircraft an inverted appearance compared to conventional biplanes. The two Rolls-Royce Kestrel engines are mounted between the wings, and the lower wing is narrower than the upper.

Specifications

The Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford has a length of 17.68 m (58 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.86 m (75 ft).
Its maximum speed is 229 km/h (142 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Entering RAF service in 1933, the Heyford equipped several bomber squadrons during the mid-1930s until replaced by monoplane types. It participated in numerous Empire Air Day displays and was the standard RAF heavy bomber at a time of rapid technological change.

Variants

Three main marks existed — Mk I, Mk IA, and Mk III — differing primarily in engine variant and minor equipment fits.

Where you'll see it

The Heyford served exclusively with the RAF, equipping ten squadrons between 1933 and 1939. All had been retired before the outbreak of World War II.

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