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The H.P. 42 "Heracles" and "Hannibal" class of airliners were the world's first practical four engined
airliners and for a decade made an outstanding contribution to commercial aviation. "Hannibal",
the prototype of the series flew, for the first time in November 1930 and the complete fleet of eight went
into service with Imperial Airways the following year, replacing the ageing Handley Page W.8's.
Two types of H.P. 42 were constructed, four of them the 42 E or Eastern Class usually known by the name
of the flagship "Hannibal" and four of them 42W or Western Class known normally as "Heracles";
"Helena" also was a 42W. Externally all eight aircraft were virtually identical but the Western Class which
operated mainly in Europe and on part of the India service carried 38 passengers whereas the Eastern Class
operating from Alexandria to Karachi and Lake Victoria carried only 24 but had provision for a large
quantity of mail.
In service the H.P. 42's proved completely successful and were probably more popular with their
passengers than any airliner in the world. Never a fast aircraft, the H.P. 42 was said to have a built in
headwind, it was exceptionally comfortable and was the only airliner capable of offering a full catering
service, with four or seven course meals and drinks served from a trolley. The cabin was quiet, and as it
was slung beneath the wings all the occupants had good visibility; the low fuselage also meant that high
steps were not required for entry.
Outstanding among the H.P. 42's virtues was the safety record, the aircraft was absolutely reliable and in
their years of service with Imperial Airways they each flew over 12,000 hours and reached an aggregate of
ten million miles without injuring a single passenger. At the outbreak of war five of the H.P. 42's were
impressed into the R.A.F. as active service transport but within two years they had all been broken up,
two of them after being blown over in a gale.
The H.P. 42 had a wing span of 130 ft. and a length of 89 ft. 9 ins. Power was provided by four Bristol
Jupiter engines each of 550 h.p. giving a maximum speed of 128 m.p.h. and a cruising speed of 100 m.p.h.
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