One of the most
unlikely adverts I've come across for a long time.
Another 'forgotten bomber'.
The Handley Page Hereford was an inline engine version of the HP Hampden.
Quote:
Interest in the HP.52 by the Swedish for placing a potential order led to the HP.53 prototype, which was subsequently used as a testbed for a pair of 1,000 hp Napier Dagger VIII 24-cylinder H-block water-cooled inline engines.
In 1936, the RAF ordered 150 Dagger-engined Hampdens as the Hereford. Problems with engine cooling resulted in most of those built (by Short & Harland) being re-engined as Hampdens. The surviving Herefords served in training units only.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Hampden
Quote:
The engines were unreliable, over-heating on the ground and cooling too rapidly when airborne, while the very high pitched exhaust note proved uncomfortable for the crews.
http://www.handleypage.com/Aircraft_hp53.html
Hampden P1344 in the hands of the RAF Museum has a Hereford rear fuselage, from its service days, IIRC.
PS: Perhaps I should add that the aircraft is named after the county
town 'Hereford' of Herefordshire, in line with the then RAF policy of city names for bombers - not the bull, itself named after the town as well.
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