Handley Page
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Handley Page Ltd
Handley Page Ltd, was founded by Frederick (later Sir) Handley Page on 17th June 1909, and was the first public company to build aircraft.
They produced the O/100, the largest aircraft built in Britain in 1911, Used as a heavy night bomber, the O/100 featured folding wings, an enclosed cabin with bullet-proof glass and armour protection, and engines mounted in armoured nacelles. Improvements to the O/100 resulted in the O/400, powered by twin 360hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.
First flown in November 1930, the HP42, an all-metal biplane with the first enclosed cockpit and accommodation for up to 24 passengers served until the advent of war, when the company's production reverted entirely to military bombers. These include the four-engined Halifax and Hampden, along with the Hereford, Harrow and Heyford twin bombers.
1968, the smaller 18-seat HP137 Jetstream was put into production at Radlett, but the high cost of developing this aircraft forced Handley Page into voluntary liquidation and on 1st June 1970, Handley Page Ltd ceased to exist.
The Jetstream was later redeveloped by British Aerospace into a successful regional aircraft.
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