| After extensive market research
by the Reading subsidiary of Handley Page from 1950,
the original design of the Herald was to be a piston
engined aircraft. The HPR.3, as it was designated, had
four Leonides Major piston engines and two prototypes
flew in August 1955 and 1956 respectively.
Changing conditions in the industry led to the design
being reappraised and the twin turboprop option that
became the HPR.7 Herald was taken up. The Vickers Viscount
had by now proved the benefits of the new turboprop
technology and the piston engine was considered old
fashioned and uneconomic.
The two prototype aircraft (G-AODE & G-AODF) were
re-engined with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops, with the
first flying in the new configuration on 11th March
1958.
The series 100 production aircraft first flew in October
1959 (G-APWA) and BEA took delivery of the first three
aircraft soon after, putting them into service on their
Scottish routes.
The later 200 series, developed from 1960, had a small
fuselage extension of 42 in and entered service in May
1961 with Jersey Airlines. Jersey later became British
Island Airways and then Air UK, with these airlines
and British Air Ferries being the main operators of
the type in the UK.
The only other development made during production was
the 400 series military version of the 200. This order
from the Malaysian Air Force only totalling eight aircraft.
Due to the enormous success of other similar designs,
such as the Hawker Siddeley 748 and in particular the
Fokker F-27 Friendship, the Herald never sold in great
numbers. Although 50 were made up until August 1968,
the sales were not enough to save the troubled manufacturer
and Handley Page was wound up at the end of 1969.
(Article by David Maltby)
Handley Page Herald 200 data
Accommodation: 3
Crew & 38-56 passengers
Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce Dart 527 turboprops
2,105ehp
Span: 94ft 9in
Length: 75ft 6in
Gross weight: 43,000lb
Max payload: 11,700lb
Max cruise: 275mph at 15,000ft
Range: Typically 700 miles with max payload
& reserves at 275mph
reference
& data Civil Airliner Recognition 1973
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