I found this rather interesting photograph in an old album I acquired.
It shows Handley Page HP O/7 G-IAAA soon after assembly in January 1920 at Wingfield in Cape Town.
It was registered in November 1919 (interestingly the first aircraft to appear on the Indian civil aircraft register) but its stay in South Africa was short-lived, being shipped out to India and next seen in Calcutta in March 1920.
Evidence suggests it was painted overall olive green with the exception of the top of the upper wing which was silver and carried the civil registration, the construction number HP8 is seen on the tailplane.
It was briefly operated by the Handley Page South African Transport Ltd set up in January 1920 but liquidated in that September.
A second aircraft, G-EANV crashed near Acacia Siding outside Beaufort West on 19 February.
Note the early use of aerial advertising for a popular local brandy!
By: Mark Haselden - 13th March 2018 at 13:42
Hi Folks,
Sorry for being late to the party but I just discovered that a relative of mine was one of the pilots flying HP O/400s in South Africa in the period 24 March to 5 June 1920. Would be very interested in any additional info about this interesting, but ultimately doomed, enterprise.
Many thanks,
Mark
By: flyernzl - 19th November 2017 at 08:52
Rather sad that these early HP giants seemed to have really short lives.
By: HP111 - 18th November 2017 at 18:11
Yes please!. On the other query, one way to try for more information might be to get the picture published in the Handley Page Association Newsletter. PM me if you would like to do that.
By: antiqueaviation - 18th November 2017 at 17:51
I also have a few images of HP42 G-AAXF “Helena” taken on a visit to SA in January 1933. Will post them!
By: HP111 - 18th November 2017 at 10:07
Anything Handley Page is interesting!:)
By: Lazy8 - 17th November 2017 at 23:02
Thanks antiqueaviation.
Glad you reached the same conclusion I had, but disappointed too as I hoped you might have found something interesting!
:eagerness:
By: antiqueaviation - 17th November 2017 at 18:34
Hi Lazy8,
You are probably correct – an image I saw of its sister aircraft in South Africa seemed to suggest silver (the upper surface differing slightly in shade when compared to the advertising panel on the fuselage side) but on further reading I agree that the upper surface would have indeed been white.
By: Lazy8 - 16th November 2017 at 19:03
Fascinating, thank you for posting.
Might I ask where you found the evidence of silver on the top wing? I know some of the later HPIBT aircraft were silver, but I had assumed from the photos I’ve seen that the registration panel on the top of HP.8 and its early siblings was white.
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November 16, 2017 at 6:12 pm