Handley Page Marathon
Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1946 · airliner
The Handley Page Marathon was a British four-engine feederliner designed in the mid-1940s to serve short regional routes. Although it entered RAF service as a navigation trainer, it had only limited commercial success.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.99 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British postwar feederliner with four piston engines on high wings
- Twin-tail booms give a distinctive twin-finned tail silhouette
- Small and angular — reminiscent of a scaled-down Hermes
Compact high-wing four-engine aircraft with twin tailfins, straight dihedral wings with four closely spaced piston engines, and a round fuselage cross-section.
Specifications
- The Handley Page Marathon has a length of 15.99 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.81 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 362 km/h (225 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + up to 20 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Marathon was designed under the Brabazon Committee's specification for a short-haul airliner and first flew in May 1946. British European Airways placed an initial order but found the type underpowered and uneconomical, cancelling most of its requirement. The RAF adopted the Marathon T.11 as a navigation trainer, where it served from 1953 to 1958. West African Airways operated a small number commercially.
Variants
The Marathon 1 was the civilian transport; the Marathon T.11 was the RAF navigation trainer with revised interior; a turboprop conversion was proposed but not built.
Where you'll see it
Operated in small numbers by West African Airways Corporation and the RAF; never achieved the widespread commercial adoption its designers intended.
Related aircraft
- Handley Page Halifax B.III
- Handley Page Victor
- Handley Page Halifax
- Handley Page Herald
- Convair 110
- Convair CV-110
- Douglas DC-6
- Short Solent
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.