Handley Page HP 42 " Hadrian " - October 1936

There are no know images of Meher Baba for the whole of this journey from Bombay to London. This was his 9th visit to the West.

Courtesy of Lord Meher ; Bhau Kalchuri - Vol.6-7 : p 2041

Map showing the 1936 plane, ship, road & train routes. Map graphics by Anthony Zois.

" HADRIAN "

The plane was named after the Roman Emperor ( b.AD 76 ) ruled from AD.117 to 138 ).

He initiated plans to end distinctions between Rome & her provinces.

He visited Britain in AD.122, where he ordered the building of Hadrian's Wall.

This plane was one of 8, its construction number was 42 / 2 and its registration no. is G-AAUE

It's first flight was on 24th June 1931.

At the start of WW2, it was assigned to RAF Squadron 271 - 5/40 as AS 982 and was based in Odiham, England.

On the 6th December 1940, during a gale, it tore loose from its moorings at Doncater Airport, England and it cart-wheeled onto railway tracks, ending up inverted on the line.

Routes

The route that the plane took was from Karachi - Gwadar, Muscat, Oman - Sharjah, U.A.E. - Bahrein - Kuwait - Basra, Iraq - Baghdad, Iraq.

Passenger Rates

Specifications (H.P.42E)

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Capacity: 24 passengers
Length: 92 ft 2 in (28.09 m)
Wingspan: 130 ft (39.62 m)
Height: 27 ft (8.23 m)
Wing area: 2,989 sq ft (278 m²)
Airfoil: RAF 28
Empty weight: 17,740 lb (8,047 kg)
Loaded weight: 28,000 lb (12,700 kg)
Powerplant: 4× Bristol Jupiter XIF radial engine, 490 hp (365 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 mph (195 km/h)
Cruise speed: 95-105 mph (150-170 km/h)
Range: 500 mi (805 km)
Rate of climb: 790 ft/min ,^[1] (4 m/s)

References

^ Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Volume 2, Second edition. London: Putnam & Company, 1973. ISBN 0-370-10010-7.