Handley Page Hyderabad
Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1923 · bomber
The Handley Page Hyderabad was a British twin-engine biplane heavy bomber that served as the RAF's standard night bomber through the late 1920s, named in the tradition of the time after a city of the British Empire. It was the first aircraft to equip the newly formed RAF heavy bomber force in its peacetime role.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.03 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large RAF biplane night bomber of the 1920s — successor to the wartime Handley Page O/400
- Twin engines mounted between the biplane wings in tractor configuration
- Open gun positions in nose and amidships with a fixed undercarriage
A large interwar RAF biplane bomber with twin tractor engines between the wings, a slab-sided fuselage with open cockpit and gun positions, and the substantial fixed undercarriage typical of 1920s heavy types.
Specifications
- The Handley Page Hyderabad has a length of 18.03 m (59 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.86 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 4-5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the wartime W/400 lineage, the Hyderabad first flew in 1923 and entered RAF service in 1925 with No. 99 Squadron. It served until the early 1930s when it was replaced by the Handley Page Hinaidi. The Hyderabad was used to develop RAF night bombing doctrine in the interwar period.
Variants
The Hinaidi was the developed successor with more powerful Bristol Jupiter engines, sharing the Hyderabad's basic biplane configuration.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF in the United Kingdom from 1925 to approximately 1934, equipping several heavy bomber squadrons; also operated by the Indian Air Force. A genuine British type with no particular relevance to other nations.
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