The British Bomber That Looked Utterly Ridiculous | Handley Page Heyford [Aircraft Overview #91] 

F.A.Q Section Q: Do you take aircraft requests? A: I have a list of aircraft I plan to cover, but feel free to add to it with suggestions:) Q: Why do you use imperial measurements for some videos, and metric for others? A: I do this based on country of manufacture. Imperial measurements for Britain and the U.S, metric for the rest of the world, but I include text in my videos that convert it for both. Q: Will you include video footage in your videos, or just photos? A: Video footage is very expensive to licence, if I can find footage in the public domain I will try to use it, but a lot of it is hoarded by licencing studies (British Pathe, Periscope films etc). In the future I may be able to afford clips :) Q: Why do you sometimes feature images/screenshots from flight simulators? A: Sometimes there are not a lot of photos available for certain aircraft, so I substitute this with digital images that are as accurate as possible.

"The British Bomber That Looked Utterly Ridiculous" can apply to most interwar bombers

I can’t imagine seeing this monstrosity doing a loop.. that would be awesome

20 years (1932 to 52) we went from open cockpit planes made of wood, cloth and wires to the first flight of the B-52. Times were a changing.

I'm glad you are featuring this plane. My grandfather's twin brother died during training in one of these in 1938. Apparently with the high cockpit the pilot misjudged on approach and hit a tree or haystack, bursting into flames. Many thanks for your informative and entertaining video's. Andy Jackson

At least in the event of a fire while taxiing, the crew could safely bail out while still on the ground using their parachutes! 😁

Kudos again to your associate Mark for his 3D model of the Heyford...its really beautiful work. I'd personally like to see more of his library.

we live in an era where 50 year old jet planes still look modern.

An Uncle of mine trained (navigator, RAF 1939-59) on Heyfords (in Upper Heyford!) in Oct & Nov 1939 (finally squeezing into a Hampden from Dec), "cold" I recall him commenting .... or words to that effect

Those 3D models are very cool . I think it's a great way to show what the aircraft would look like if you could walk around it.👍👌🛩

Just 20 years between 'that' and the Avro Vulcan ... ..

As someone with an interest in military aviation since making Airfix kits and reading Biggles books as a kid I am constantly surprised by the planes that I have never heard of. This surprise reoccurs every few weeks and has been going on for some time. Thanks Rex.

Had to Google that crash of Heyfords flying from NI to Yorkshire - and it confirmed a guess at the Yorks destination/base being RAF Finningley. Much later a Vulcan base and later still a RAF nav school. And closed a few months ago as Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Unfortunately. Good vid as always.

That thing honestly looks like something from Studio Ghibli. I never would’ve guessed that an actual bomber was in service that looked like that. But what’s more amazing is that the looks served a function. Those loading and fueling solutions sound genius!

Those open biplanes with the open pilot and gunner compartments remind me of that old 60's-70's TV cartoon shown here in the USA called Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines. Brings back memories

You see it on a lot of British bombers with upper fuselage mounted gun positions. The roundel is very often directly over the position of the gunner position, giving the enemy a 'target' to aim at...

My namesake father's brother flew Heyfords in Bomber Command prewar, as well as Ansons. His squadron, 18 Squadron, converted to Blenheims and he was killed in one attacking shipping in the North Sea in 1941. He told my father that the Anson was the most pleasant to fly.

WOO! New Rex video! Been binging Drach’s videos, starting with your guys’ collab, the las week. Love the work man 🤘

I like the look of that thing. Odd-looking does not necessarily mean inadequate. My dad did a full tour plus 3 as mid-upper and tail gunner on a Handley Page Halifax B-III out of Linton-on-Ouse in '44 and '45 with RCAF 426 Sqn. He liked the bird which was a radically different beast then the Heyford in a big jump for Handley Page in a matter of very few years. War supercharges military efforts. Cheers from Ottawa, ON

Thanks for the video. Interesting, as always. A minor historical point of interest: the Heyford was used as a 'target' aircraft by technicians trialling the very first primitive radar systems in the field at Daventry 26th February 1935. This proved that radar could be used to detect aircraft. 87 years ago now. You can get a lovely mug, celebrating this event from the wonderful Bawdsey Radar museum, which is housed in the remains of one of the original Chain Home stations in Suffolk. Yep, as a fully paid up nerd, I have one! 🙂

I am having such a nostalgia trip with the "between the wars" aircraft you cover. My father created Contrail model aircraft and in the 70s and 80s produced in vac-form, amongst others, a whole bunch of these bombers and also flying boats and transports of the same era. From memory the Heyford, Bombay, Hendon, Harrow, Hyderabad, Sidestrand/Overstrand, Horsley, Vernon, Victoria, Virginia, Scapa, London, Southampton, Stranraer, Singapore, Sturgeon, Rangoon and he collaborated on the Maia/Mercury Copmposite with, I think, Airframe of Canada. You've covered some of these already. Please keep digging, it's a rich seam.

Hi Rex, I've made several drawings of this aircraft, due to the lower wing in close proximity to terr-ferma had made rearmanet of bombs easier, so it should have been called the "Handley-Page Hernia-saver"

Oh, how I miss RAF Upper Heyford

It was only a year after the first Heyfords entered serve that the first Martin B-10's entered serve in America. They look like they are from completely different ages.

I made a Matchbox kit (1/72 scale) of this aircraft back in the day. Quite impressive.

The Heyford was a contemporary of the Martin B-10, and yet seemed to be a throwback to an earlier age by comparison. But I guess it had capabilities that were worth keeping it in operation as long as it was.

1:07 the Anson looks like an F22 by comparison

The Heyford also had a pivotal part in the development of British Radar when one was used as a target in proof of concept trials in 1935.

I believe (happy to be proven wrong) that the HP Heyford was the first aircraft to be detected via radar during proof of concept by Robert Watson Watt.

Hey love your channel. So, @12:10 have you noted the dramatic scene captured beneath the forward fuselage?! It’s the urgent attitudes of the three men standing in the foreground and the hesitant stance of the mechanic in the distance. There’s what seems to be a partially covered body on the ground beneath the aircraft. Possibly someone who has had a fatal fall from the high cockpit? At least one of the three men appear to be security, based on his hat, the other two men could be also. But their body language seems a shaken hesitancy at the scene. The man on the ground may have been covered by an work smock or overcoat, possibly belonging to the man in suspenders. There’s a tool, loose, on the ground at the feet of the prostrate man. Tools just laying about is poor flight line hygiene. This really appears to be a tragic scenario.

Brilliant, thanks Rex. I have a soft spot for the Heyford as my father did his nav training in them at RAF Leconfield in 1938. In fact the model you show is the very first aircraft in his flying log book. Sorry but I need to point out to Mark that ‘K’ was k4023 not K4022. As I said it is the first aircraft in the book so I have found several photos of it. He was also on 99Sqn but when they had HP Hinaidi.

Fun fact,it was this plane Watson-Watt used to proof that radar was possible.

Fully operational slats on the leading edge of the upper wing, eh? Very nice...

What a plane! I wish you'd provided some info into the procedure to enter/exit the vehicle.

The pic at 7:45 looks like it's sitting on a beach at first and the runway is the water, strangely artistic

I love that thing! Engineering innovation requires "thinking outside the box". I think the Heyford qualifies.😁 Thanks! And keep up the good work.

A book by the Finchley History Society wrote a book about the Cricklewood HP factory entitled "Handley Page the scourge of the Fokkers" , a reference to the Imperial German Air Force and it's foes in the RFC later the RAF .

That early photo...when an arvo Anson makes you look out of date. Thanks for the content.

I really like your delivery style. Too many narrators blather endlessly without saying anything. This video has a satisfying density of actual information, delivered without being overwhelming.

A Hayford was used as a camera platform for the M-G-M British film 'Shadow of the Wing,' which was abandoned due to a falling out between M-G-M and the Air Ministry. A mock night-time bombing run, following the Thames, was filmed - so far there has been no evidence that this footage survived. Footage of a Hendon air show was filmed for 'Shadow of the Wing' and this found its way into 'The Lion has Wings.'

The Heyford was used by Watson-Watt, who invented radar, for the first test using an aircraft, bouncing the signal off the BBC Ariel's at Daventry. His van was in a field not for from a village in Northamptonshire called Lichbourigh. One of the villages two miles away is called Nether Heyford, this is were I live.

I believe that the Hereford was used to test sir Robert Watson watt theory that radio waves could be used to detect planes, a Hereford was used to fly over the aerial to see if it registered , which it did , and this the beginning of the development of radar and the successful application of it through the chain home system.

I like the sarcastic humour that is a feature of the description.

For the single prototype aircraft to be in use for that long says a lot about how well designed and built the Heyford was. It seems to be one of those unlucky aircraft that was actually pretty good but arrived too late for the time period it found itself in.

When looking at videos like this, I always have to persuade myself to believe the fact, that people at the time actually looked at this with "admiration for this impressive modern world"🙂

That's simply perfect, just yesterday I thought about asking you to make a video on the Heyford, and just like magic here it is!

I'm Canadian. The only thing my country did right was the Avro Arrow. Your take on that project would be great.

I think that was great for the time period. 19 years later, the B-52, which might end up being in service for 100 years.

Could you imagine how chuffed the Luftwaffe would have been if it was still in service in 1939

The Gotha G1 bomber of WW1 had a very similar layout to the Heyford, though its engines were on the lower wing.

What the RAF rookies said about the Heyford only reinforces my view that the best examples of future shock can be found in the world of aviation. To cite my favorite instance, just think of a Wright Flyer parked next to an SR-71 Blackbird ... and then consider that their first flights were only one human lifetime apart.

I remember discovering this via Matchbox (then a plastic model kit company, I think their molds are Revell now?) who were proud enough of their new kit of this aircraft they published a little 4 page full colour promo magazine they gave out at the hobby shops. I was... younger and I think my Grandparents grabbed one for me. Remember laying on the longue at my Grandparent's house closely studying this previously unknown aircraft via this free promo.

Gotta love the idea of this unusual biplane bomber being used to test airborne radar. The fact she was without vices, reliable and easy to fly makes her a good candidate I guess.

I really like the new vids with 3d models, keep it up Rex, things are looking great!

So glad you covered this plane, was curious about it.

Another top choice of subject matter to which you've done real justice! Well done rex,

Gotta admit... This one has always been a favorite of mine.🤩

Must have taken some Balls to loop one , but it shows the faith the Pilots had in it , An odd looking Aircraft but you can see the future Heavies coming through it..But I luv it..Nice one Rex.

The high Kestrel engine position makes me wonder how they started these things.

It would be awesome to restore a real one of these.

Historical context always adds alot to your highly informative videos. The model is very nicely done. Thanks.

Never even heard about this flying monstrosity. Thanks for a great historical aviation video. 👍

Amazing video!!!! I love your vids and hope you never stop!!! keep it up!

The video at 1:33 shows the first flight of the first HP O/400 built under licence in the USA. I think 117 O/400s served with the US Army Air Corps, some guarded the Mexican border and some were used by Col Billy Mitchell to bomb the German warships off the US East coast.

@Rex'sHangar your going to have to explain that photo @12:20! Did that chap sprawled out on the ground under the nose. Did he fall out of the plane? Did fall through a trap door on the floor of the front gunner position? There people around performing 1st aide (circa 1933 style)

I never understood why Junkers and contemporaries took so long to realize the belly gunner could have such a reduced drag with the simple expedient of a prone position like the Germans did later in their Schnell bombers. Or at the very least try to give them a more streamlined cross section. Until a retractable electrical/hydraulic turrets could be developed and perfected that seemed a nobrainer!

Many of the early interwar bombers looked completely bonkers! A lot of it has to do with the way 2 early, common features affected the aesthetics when the design was scaled up from small fighter to large bomber and, indeed, large transport aircraft. These 2 features were the multiple wings coupled with an open cockpit, especially when that open cockpit includes other defensive and offensive open positions like the bomb aimer/gunner in the nose and gunner positions out under the wings.

The picture at 11:49 looks as if someone had been knocked unconcious by something. Does anyone have some info about what took place at this scene when the picture was shot?

Interesting stuff - thanks. But a couple of oddities caught my eye: At around 11:50 there's a man on the ground, and from his position, it doesn't look good (also judging by the concerned looks from those round him). And about 17:43, when you talk about the Hayfords being used for in-flight refueling, etc, it looks more like that particular aircraft is actually towing (or has just released) a glider?

I love your vids. Tons of info presented in an engaging, entertaining way. You are the airplane version of Drachinifel!! Keep them coming, please!

with retratable landing gear, and elimination of the lower wing, it would have had been fairly modern lines

Completely fascinating, as always. Thank you 🎉🎉

I like interwar bombers because they were actually well thought out. The reason they look that way is because engine technology and materials weren’t up to scratch at that point. If someone just plunked down a Pratt and Whitney R2800 double wasp engine (which was engine on P-47 and DC-6) to people in 1920, in like 5 years they would have come up with same design as thunderbolt and DC-6 designs from 20 years later. The interwar planes are planes people can make in their garage with limited materials and a few trips to the hardware store.

Excellent video as always. A very interesting aircraft and one that I had, previous to watching the video, known very little about. Thanks Rex.

Just how did the crew get into the critter? That one photo of the ground crew man laying on the ground, makes you wonder if he fell off the thing. Ouch.

Just to be clear, the optimum techique for landing is to have NO brakes applied!

Required takeoff distance at MAUW of 200 yards is a fairly impressive specification.

Sorry, but that slur on the platypus is unwarranted. Their body form and behaviour is perfectly adapted to their life and habitat - which has resulted in a rather basal type of animal with a very long history, living quite well in the modern world. 😁 Or did I just imply an unfair criticism of the Heyford, for the limited vision of the people who wrote the specification? On a different topic: I note that the propellers of the model of this aeroplane have each pair of blades in a different plane to the other pair - as was the case with the Walrus. If the model is accurate, I am getting the feeling that this was something to do with the manufacture of those wooden props.

Nice model

Giving an Airfix kit to a group of toddlers 😆, love it

Thanks. Great video and graphics!

Props to the modelmaker! That looked cool!!!

My late father-in-law, in service with the RAF Regiment just before WW2, was transported (not sure to where) in one of these. He didn't like the look or feel of it, and didn't feel safe until it had landed. Looking at it, he was actually surprised it even flew.

Loving the orbiting/flying camera on the 3D model walkthrough!

Great video,have loved the Heyford ever since I seen the old Matchbox model kit of it back in the 70's,very unique design,I'm sure Wing nut wings would have did a very great model kit of it too had they still been around I'm sure?,cheers

It was popular with aircrews probably due to it being relatively easy to fly and consequently not trying to kill them unlike most aircraft they were expected to fly at that time.

Nice Baldric reference at 15:33!

I worked with a man that was a mechanic on these beasts prior to and in the beginning of WWII. The Air Ministry wanted to get more heavy bombers but they weren’t allowed to increase the number of aircraft in inventory. They had to get rid of the Herefords by other means. The RAF decided to send these bombers up to an airfield in Scotland just before a hurricane was going to strike there. These bombers took the nickname “kite” to heart and took to the air well. Even though the ground crew did secure them to the tarmac, it wasn’t enough to prevent the planes wanting to fly into the hurricane winds. Needless to say that most of the bombers were smashed up and couldn’t be repaired. The RAF could now replace these bombers that didn’t make it through the hurricane with more modern types.

Fantastic stuff, really enjoyed that. Those 3D models do really add to the video.

Amusing and educational at the same time. I had never heard of this aircraft nor of it's production firm. That shows how many ommisions there can be in ones knowledge of a time period which one thinks one is rather familiar with. So, a big thanks from this military airforce enthousiast.

I love your love of weird aircrafts. Thanks for your videos!

There were a lot of wild designs around in that era. Believe it or not, the Heyford design was actually pretty mild, compared to some.

Many thanks for this, I have to admit that the Heyford has fascinated me for many years, thanks once again.

It looks a bit odd, I'll grant you, but "utterly ridiculous" is overstating a bit I think! I actually quite like the way the Heyford looks. It has character! Love the new graphics by the way.

Excellent video & superb modelling . . . Aerobatic Heyfords eh? - that would give Red Bull something to think about! : )

The Avro Anson in the foreground looked wildly avant-garde by comparison.

I would like to see a review of the Boulton-Paul Overstrand. It looked a handy twin-engined bomber and was fitted with an enclosed nose turret. Having admired its photo in the pre-war books with which I was brought up, I have never seen anyone mentioning this particular kite.

One thing sticks out straight away. A heavy landing that caused an undercarriage collapse could also flip the aircraft onto its roof, since there's nothing to belly-land onto.

This plane has interested me a lot since a friend showed me his model of the Heyford from Matchbox. I really like the look of it.

Among rather too many others I've got an old Matchbox 1:72nd model of the Heyford to build here Rex. Your article may well have moved it up the pecking order to 'Next'. Good stuff old son and keep it weird!