Handley Page Transport
Handley Page Transport Ltd was an airline company founded in 1919, soon after the end of the First World War, by Frederick Handley Page.
| Commenced operations | 1919 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 31 March 1924 |
| Operating bases | Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, Cricklewood Aerodrome |
| Fleet size | Handley Page Type O/400; Handley Page Type W.8 |
| Destinations | Paris, Brussels |
| Key people | Frederick Handley Page |
The company's first planes were Handley Page Type O/400 bombers modified for passenger use. They flew a London-Paris route. Per a request from the Air Ministry, the Handley Page Type W8 was later used for flights to both Paris and Brussels.
On 31 March 1924 the assets and operations of Handley were merged with three other British airlines to found Imperial Airways. That company remained dormant until reconstituted to take over operations for Miles Aircraft in 1947 as Handley Page (Reading) Ltd.
The world's first in-flight meal was offered by Handley Page Transport.[1]
Cricklewood Aerodrome
Cricklewood Aerodrome was adjacent to the Handley Page factory in Cricklewood, which had been established in 1912. The airfield was used by the factory and the transport company.
Until 17 February 1920 Handley Page Transport used Hounslow Heath Aerodrome to embark and disembark passengers for customs clearance, as customs facilities were not provided at Cricklewood initially. A London-Paris air service from Cricklewood Aerodrome was inaugurated in 1920.
The aerodrome closed in 1929 due to suburban development, and the Golders Green Estate was built on the site. A new aerodrome was built at Radlett, where most aircraft were then constructed. At Cricklewood construction of aircraft continued until 1964, when the premises were sold to become the Cricklewood trading estate.
Accidents and incidents
On 14 December 1920 a Handley Page O/400 used by the airline crashed on take-off from Cricklewood Aerodrome, hitting a tree and killing both of the crew and two of the six passengers.
On 14 January 1922, the Handley Page Transport Handley Page O/10 G-EATN, operating on a scheduled passenger flight from Croydon Airport in London to Paris–Le Bourget Airport outside Paris, crashed while on approach to Le Bourget, killing all five people on board.[2]
See also
References
- "世界最大規模の機内食工場、その驚愕のスケールとは". CNN.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- Aviation Safety Network: Accident Description