Handley Page Type W

Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1919 · airliner

The Handley Page Type W was one of Britain's first purpose-built airliners, adapted from wartime bomber experience to carry paying passengers on early cross-Channel services. It introduced enclosed seating for up to twelve passengers.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	3 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	18 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Early British biplane airliner, 1919
Three engines — one in nose, two wing-mounted
Enclosed passenger cabin below open pilot cockpit

A large biplane with a boxy enclosed fuselage distinguished from wartime bombers by passenger windows. Three engines — two between the wings and one in the nose — give it a distinctive power arrangement unusual for early airliners.

Specifications

The Handley Page Type W has a length of 18 m (59 ft).
It has a wingspan of 24.4 m (80 ft).
Its maximum speed is 174 km/h (108 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Handley Page converted O/400 bombers for civil use immediately after World War I, then developed the Type W as a cleaner airliner design. It began flying with Handley Page Transport in 1919, operating London–Paris services that were among the world's first scheduled international airline routes.

Variants

The W/400 was the initial conversion; the W.8 was a refined development that followed with improved engines and seating for more passengers.

Where you'll see it

The Type W served Handley Page Transport and later Imperial Airways on European routes in the early 1920s, helping establish Britain's early commercial aviation credentials.

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