Handley Page Type O

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Type_O

The Handley Page Type O was a biplane bomber used by Britain during the First
World War. When built, the Type O was the largest aircraft that had been built
in the UK and also one of the largest in the world. There were two main
variants, the Handley Page O/100 (H.P.11) and the Handley Page O/400 (H.P.12).

The aircraft were used in France for tactical night attacks on targets in
German-occupied France and Belgium and for strategic bombing of industrial and
transport targets in the Rhineland. Some aircraft were temporarily diverted to
anti-submarine reconnaissance and bombing in the Tees estuary in 1917 and two
aircraft operated in the eastern Mediterranean. The impression made by the Type
O was such that for many years after the war any large aircraft came to be
called a "Handley Page" in Britain and entered the dictionary as such.

Handley Page suggested building a land-based aircraft of similar size, and a
specification was drawn up around his suggestions and formally issued on 28
December 1914 for four prototypes. It called for a large biplane to be powered
by two 150 hp (110 kW) Sunbeam engines, which was required to fit in a 75 ft ×
75 ft (23 m × 23 m) shed and would therefore have folding wings. It was to carry
six 100 lb (45 kg) bombs and have armour plating to protect crew and engines
from rifle-fire from the ground. The crew of two were to be enclosed in a glazed
cockpit and the only defensive armament planned was a rifle to be fired by the
observer/engineer. The name O/100 came from the proposed wingspan of the
aircraft prefixed by an 'O', since Handley Page gave their types alphabetical
type letters. The outline design was approved on 4 February 1915, with 250 hp
(190 kW) Rolls-Royce Eagle engines and on 9 February the contract was amended to
include a further eight aircraft.

The O/100 was an unequal-span three-bay biplane, with the overhanging part of
the upper wing braced by kingposts, a rectangular section fuselage and a biplane
tail with twin balanced rudders, between the horizontal surfaces. Balanced
ailerons were fitted to the upper wing only and extended beyond the wing
trailing edge. The engines drove four-bladed propellers, rotating in opposite
directions to cancel the torque and were enclosed in armoured nacelles, mounted
between the wings on tubular steel struts. The nacelles had a long tapered
fairing to reduce drag; to clear the wing rigging wires when the wings were
folded, the rear portions of the fairings were hinged to fold inward.
Construction of the fuselage and flying surfaces was primarily of spruce, with
much reduction in weight by extensive use of hollow section members.

Role
Bomber

Manufacturer
Handley Page Aircraft Company

First flight
17 December 1915

Introduction
1916

Retired
1922

Status
Retired

Primary users
Royal Air Force
Royal Naval Air Service

Number built
600

Unit cost

£6,000 (less engines and equipment)

After the war, O/400s remained in squadron service until replaced by the Vickers
Vimy toward the end of 1919. War-surplus aircraft were converted for civilian
use in the UK and nine were used by Handley Page Transport. Eight O/400s were
fitted with passenger accommodation and operated by the 86 (Communication) Wing,
formed at Hendon to provide quick transport between London and Paris for
officials engaged in the negotiation of the Treaty of Versailles. Two were
finished in silver dope, named Great Britain and Silver Star and fitted as VIP
transports, while the others, seating eight, retained their dark green finish.

Six aircraft were assembled for sale to the Republic of China as O/7s,
principally for use as transports. The O/7s were delivered to China and
re-assembled at Nanyuan near Beijing. The aircraft flew their first service,
carrying airmail and passengers, between Beijing and Tientsin on 7 May 1920.
These services were disrupted by the outbreak of civil war, with the aircraft
being taken over by various warlords.

Specifications (O/400)

General characteristics
Crew: four or five
Length: 62 ft 10¼ in (19.16 m)
Wingspan: 100 ft (30.48 m)
Height: 22 ft (6.71 m)
Wing area: 1,648 ft² (153.1 m²)
Empty weight: 8,502 lb (3,856 kg)
Loaded weight: 14,022 lb (6,360 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,360 lb (6,060 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII inline piston, 360 hp (268 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 97.5 mph (84.7 kn, 157 km/h)
Range: 608 nmi (700 mi, 1,120 km)
Service ceiling: 8,500 ft (2,600 m)
Rate of climb: 120 ft/min (37 m/min)
Rate of climb: 23 min to 5,000 ft
Endurance: 8 hours

Armament

Guns: 5 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Guns (2 on nose Scarff ring, 2 on dorsal
position and 1 at ventral hatch)
Bombs: Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs




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