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{{Short description|1923 bomber aircraft by Handley Page}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = Handley Page H.P.24 Hyderabad
|image = Hyderabad1.jpg
|caption = 
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
|type = Heavy bomber
|manufacturer = [[Handley Page]]
|designer = 
|first flight = 23 October [[1923 in aviation|1923]]
|introduced = 1925
|retired = 1933
|status = 
|primary user = [[Royal Air Force]]
|produced = 
|number built = 39{{efn|Original order was 44 plus prototype but a number of Hyderabads were completed as Hinaidis and others converted<ref>Thetford 1976, pp. 283-285.</ref>}}
|unit cost =
|developed from = [[Handley Page Type W|Handley Page W.8]]
|variants with their own articles = [[Handley Page Hinaidi]]
}}
|}

The '''Handley Page H.P.24 Hyderabad''' was a twin-engine [[biplane]] [[heavy bomber]] designed and produced by the [[United Kingdom|British]] aircraft manufacturer [[Handley Page]]. It holds the distinction of being the last wooden heavy bomber to be operated by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF).

The Hyderabad was produced as a replacement night bomber for the RAF's [[Vickers Vimy]] and [[Airco DH.10 Amiens]] bombers. It was a derivative of the [[Handley Page Type W|Handley Page W.8]] [[airliner]], having been originally envisioned to perform additional roles such as transporting troops and coastal patrol duties. It was one of the first large aircraft to be furnished with Handley Page [[leading edge slats]]. An order for a single prototype was received by the company on 13 January 1923, which performed its [[maiden flight]] during October of that same year. Proving itself superior to the rival [[Vickers Virginia]], an initial order for 15 Hyderabad bombers was issued to Handley Page.

It was introduced to service in 1925 as a front line bomber. A total of four squadrons, half being regular squadrons and the other special reserve units, were equipped with the type. It continued to serve in its capacity as a bomber with the RAF up to 1933, by which point the Hyderabad had been eclipsed by more capable aircraft. In addition to its use in Britain, an [[licensed production|export arrangement]] was sought by the [[Belgium|Belgian]] aircraft company [[SABCA]], but this was rejected to the supposed involvement of the [[Soviet Union]]. Potential overseas sales were complicated due to the Hyderabad being placed on the [[Classified information in the United Kingdom|Secret List]], making it difficult to share any information on the aircraft.

==Development==
===Background===
The origins of the Hyderabad was initiated in response to the [[Air Ministry]] issuing multiple [[List of Air Ministry specifications#1920–1929|Specifications]] during October 1920, including ''D/R4'', ''D/R9'', and ''D/R12'', which sought a long-range bomber, coastal defense torpedo bomber, and troop-transport respectively.<ref name="barnesp184"/> Amongst the various proposals received was a submission by Handley Page for a single aircraft to fulfil the requirements of all three specifications. The envisioned aircraft was actually a derivative of an [[airliner]], the [[Handley Page Type W|Handley Page W.8]], that was already in production by the company.<ref name="barnesp184">Barnes 1967, p. 284.</ref> While this proposal was not acted upon at this time, two years later, tenders were sought for [[List of Air Ministry specifications|Specification 31/22]], a replacement night bomber for the [[Airco DH.10 Amiens]] and the [[Vickers Vimy]]. Handley Page's submission, initially referred to as ''W.8D'', shared many of its features, such as the wings, tail, and [[landing gear|undercarriage]] with the W.8B.<ref name="barnesp1846">Barnes 1967, pp. 184-186.</ref><ref name="mason bomber">Mason 1994, pp. 152–154.</ref>

Having been sufficiently impressed by the proposal, the company was awarded contract No. 369332/22 to produce a single prototype W.8D on 13 January 1923.<ref name="barnesp186"/> This aircraft performed its [[maiden flight]] during October 1923, piloted by Arthur Wilcockson. During service trials of the prototype undertaken by the [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]] (A & AEE) at [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Martlesham Heath]], it was evaluated against the rival [[Vickers Virginia]].<ref name="mason bomber"/><ref name="barnesp186"/> While bearing equal payloads, the W.8D proved to possess superior performance, as well as being a lighter aircraft overall. Consequently, Handley Page was issued with a production contract to produce an initial batch of 15 aircraft, which was officially designated ''Hyderabad''.<ref name="mason bomber"/><ref name="barnesp186">Barnes 1967, p. 186.</ref>

===Into production===
Aviation author C. H. Barnes claims that financial difficulties on the part of Handley Page were responsible for the Hyderabad's relatively slow rate of production, which was such that the Air Ministry intervened in the matter and reapportioned contractual responsibility to the company.<ref name="barnesp186"/> These production difficulties did not deter international interest in the bomber; the [[Belgium|Belgian]] aircraft company [[SABCA]] requested a [[licensed production|license]] to locally manufacture its own Hyderabads; however, the Air Ministry formally refused to authorise any such deal allegedly due to suspicions that the [[Soviet Union]] might have been seeking to procure the aircraft for its own military purposes. Handley Page also received an official reprimand for sharing detailed drawings of the Hyderabad with the Italian press, as the aircraft had been placed on the [[Classified information in the United Kingdom|Secret List]].<ref name="barnesp186"/>

During June 1927, a second batch of eight Hyderabads was ordered, followed shortly thereafter by a third order for eleven aircraft to equip a second RAF squadron.<ref name="barnesp199"/> During 1928, a final batch of eleven Hyderabads, however some of these were equipped with [[Bristol Jupiter VIII]] [[radial engine]]s and separately designated as the [[Handley Page Hinaidi]] instead. This aircraft was a derivative of, and effectively a successor to, the Hinaidi, incorporating multiple advances and being capable of superior performance.<ref name="barnesp199202">Barnes 1967, pp. 199, 202.</ref> During the operating lives of these aircraft, several were reengined with Lion engines due to a shortage of Jupiters, leading to them being designated once again as Hyderabads.<ref name="barnesp202">Barnes 1967, p. 202.</ref>

==Design==
The Handley Page Hyderabad was a twin-engine [[biplane]] [[heavy bomber]] featuring all-wooden construction. From a structural perspective, it shared a high degree of similarity with the preceding W.8 airliner. Propulsion consisted of a pair of [[Napier Lion]] engines, which were installed upon the aircraft without the use of fairings.<ref name="barnesp186"/> Fuel was located in tanks slung underneath the upper wing, relying upon [[gravity]] to feed the engines. The Hyderabad was furnished with a single fin and [[rudder]], and was one of the first large aircraft to be fitted with Handley Page [[leading edge slats]], which gave the aircraft a high degree of lateral stability.<ref name="thetford raf">Thetford 1957, pp. 242–243.</ref>

The Hydrderabad was typically operated by a crew of four, comprising two pilots and two gunners. The pilots, which were seated in a [[tandem]] arrangement in separate cockpits, both being forward of the wing and provided with a favourable all-round external view.<ref name="barnesp1846"/> The forward gunner also doubled as the bomb-aimer.<ref name="barnesp186"/> In terms of its armaments, it could carry a pair of 550 lb bombs, or a larger number of smaller munitions; a self-defense capability in the form of three [[Lewis gun]]s mounted on [[Scarff ring]]s positioned at the nose, mid-upper fuselage, and a rear-firing ventral location.<ref name="barnesp184"/>

==Operational history==
During December 1925, the Hyderabad entered service with [[No. 99 Squadron RAF|No. 99 (Bomber) Squadron]] at [[RAF Bircham Newton]],<ref name="mason bomber"/> where it replaced the single-engined [[Avro Aldershot]] bomber.<ref name="thetford raf"/> Barnes observed that the squadron's personnel generally had high opinions of the aircraft, especially after the redesigned rudder had been standardised.<ref name="barnesp199">Barnes 1967, p. 199.</ref> Deliveries of the type were slow, while attrition losses through multiple accidents were relatively high, a combination of factors which delayed the formation of the second squadron, [[No. 10 Squadron RAF|No. 10 Squadron]] at [[RAF Upper Heyford]] until 1928.<ref name="thetford raf"/> Despite several accidents occurring, there were no fatalities; Barnes speculates that this was a unique feat amongst RAF aircraft of the era.<ref name="barnesp202"/>

During 1928 and 1929, two Special Reserve squadrons were also formed, receiving the Hyderabad as equipment. On 12 October 1928, a Hyderabad of No.99 Squadron undertook a particularly noteworthy flight for the time, performing a non-stop flight between [[Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire|Upper Heyford]] and [[Turnhouse]].<ref name="barnesp202"/> During 1931, both of the regular squadrons flying the Hyderabad were re-equipped with the [[Handley Page Hinaidi]], an all-metal development of the Hyderabad. The final reserve Squadron, No. 503, continued to operate their Hyderabad inventory until 1933.<ref name="mason bomber"/>

==Operators==
;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]
** [[No. 10 Squadron RAF|No. 10 Squadron]]
** [[No. 99 Squadron RAF|No. 99 Squadron]]
** [[No. 502 Squadron RAF|No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF Special Reserve]]
** [[No. 503 Squadron RAF|No. 503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAF Special Reserve]]

==Specifications (Hyderabad)==

{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''The British Bomber since 1914''<ref name="mason bomber"/>
|prime units?= imp

|crew= 4
|length ft= 59
|length in= 2
|length note=
|span ft= 75
|span in= 0
|span note=
|height ft= 16
|height in= 9
|height note=
|wing area sqft= 1,471
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb= 8,910
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb= 13,590
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=

|eng1 number= 2
|eng1 name= [[Napier Lion|Napier Lion V]] or VA
|eng1 type= W-12 water-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp= 500
|eng1 note= at 2,250 rpm

|prop blade number= 4
|prop name= fixed-pitch propellers
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=

|max speed mph= 109
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles= 500
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft= 14,000
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin= 800
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft= 9.24
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass= {{cvt|0.074|hp/lb}}
|more performance=

|guns=3 × [[.303 British|.303 in]] (7.7 mm) [[Lewis Gun]]s in nose, dorsal and ventral positions
|bombs= 1,100 lb (499 kg) bombs carried externally

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent

|related=
* [[Handley Page Type W|Handley Page W.8]]
* [[Handley Page Hinaidi]]
* [[Handley Page Clive]]
|similar aircraft=*[[Vickers Vimy]]
* [[Vickers Virginia]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force|List of aircraft of the RAF]]
|see also=
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Barnes, C. H. ''Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907''. London: Putnam, 1976. {{ISBN|0-370-00030-7}}.
* Clayton, Donald C. ''Handley Page, an Aircraft Album''. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1969. {{ISBN|0-7110-0094-8}}.
* {{Cite book | last =Mason | first =Francis K | year =1994 | title =The British Bomber since 1914 | place =London | publisher =Putnam Aeronautical Books| pages= 152–154 | isbn = 0-85177-861-5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Thetford |first=Owen |year=1957 |title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57 |edition=1st |place=London |publisher=Putnam}}
* Thetford, Owen. ''Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918''.London: Putnam & Company. 1976 {{ISBN|0-370-10056-5}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Handley Page Hyderabad}}

{{Handley Page aircraft}}

[[Category:1920s British bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Handley Page aircraft|Hyderabad]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1923]]
[[Category:Hyderabad State Forces]]

Handley Page Hyderabad - Revision history

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