13/04/2024
https://youtu.be/p9-pGiqoopw
Experience history with the first flight from London to Sharjah in 1932 on the Handley Page HP42 Aircraft. Travel back in time with this amazing journey!
As the sun dipped low over the Gulf, casting a golden hue across the horizon, an unusual sound broke the tranquillity of the late afternoon in Sharjah. A distant hum grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable roar of propeller engines slicing through the air. It was a scene that marked a significant moment in history for the region.
On that day, October 5, 1932, Sharjah witnessed the arrival of the Handley Page HP42, a formidable aircraft operated by Imperial Airways. This arrival heralded the dawn of international aviation in the area, as Sharjah embraced its role as a pivotal stop along the air route connecting Britain and India.
Originally, this route was traced along the Iranian coast, but a dispute over landing rights prompted Britain to redirect it to the Arabian Gulf, with Sharjah becoming a crucial waypoint. Although not the first aircraft to touch down in the region, the Handley Page HP42's landing marked the inauguration of what could be considered the UAE's inaugural airport.
Dubbed "Hanno," the aircraft completed its journey from Gwadar, modern-day Pakistan, at a modest speed of around 160 kilometres per hour, carrying a handful of passengers and crew. As the plane taxied to a stop, passengers were ushered into temporary accommodations, as the construction of a proper guesthouse was still underway. This historic event marked the beginning of a new era for Sharjah, one intertwined with the skies and the promise of global connectivity.
Witness the historic first flight from London to Sharjah in 1934 on the Handley Page HP42 Aircraft. Experience aviation history in this captivating video!
Handley Page HP42 Aircraft
The HP.42 was powered by four air-cooled, supercharged 1,752.788-cubic-inch-displacement (28.723 litres) Bristol Jupiter XI F 9-cylinder radial engines with a compression ratio of 5:1, which had a normal power rating of 460 horsepower at 2,000 r.p.m., and produced a maximum of 510 horsepower at 2,250 r.p.m., each. Two engines were mounted in nacelles between the upper and lower wings, and two were mounted on the lower wing. All four engines were left-hand tractors, driving four-bladed propellers through a 2:1 gear reduction. The Jupiter XI weighed 880 pounds (399 kilograms). The throttles were arranged so that the upper engines could go to full throttle only after the lower engines, rather than simultaneously.
The HP.42 had a cruise speed of 96 miles per hour (155 kilometres per hour) and its maximum speed was 120 miles per hour (193 kilometres per hour). The airliner’s range was 500 miles (805 kilometers).
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