Handley Page W.8f
Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1923 · airliner
The Handley Page W.8f was a refined three-engine variant of the W.8 biplane airliner, adding a third Rolls-Royce Eagle or Siddeley Jaguar engine in the nose compared to the original twin-engine design. It served British and European operators in the mid-1920s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.06 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-engine biplane with centre nose engine and two between wings
- Enclosed passenger saloon beneath broad upper wing
- Fixed undercarriage with large mainwheel fairings
Three engines with the centre motor in the nose cowl and two engines mounted on struts between the wings is the key recognition point shared across W.8 tri-motor variants.
Specifications
- The Handley Page W.8f has a length of 18.06 m (59 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.86 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 169 km/h (105 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Following the W.8b, Handley Page developed the W.8f with three engines to provide redundancy on cross-Channel routes. Imperial Airways and associated carriers used the type briefly before transitioning to more modern aircraft.
Variants
The W.8 family included the original twin W.8, the W.8b, W.8e (SABCA-built for Sabena), W.8f, W.8g Hamilton, and W.9a Hampstead.
Where you'll see it
Saw limited service with British operators; the Belgian-built W.8e variant was more numerously produced for Sabena.
Related aircraft
- Handley Page Hyderabad
- Handley Page Hendon
- Handley Page H.P.20
- Handley Page W.9a Hampstead
- Blériot 115
- de Havilland DH.50
- Supermarine Sea Eagle
- de Havilland DH.34
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.