India’s Early Aviation Handley Page Biplane In Calcutta, 1919 Photo
Rare 1919 photos of a Handley Page Aircraft near Calcutta’s (Kolkata) race course. This illustrates British India’s early aviation period. Aircraft manufacturing rapidly advanced from what the Wright brothers first flew in 1903. The rudimental biplane the Wright brothers pioneered was instrumental in opening the sky for powered flight.
Aviation was in the nascent stage at the time many clambered to manufacture aircraft commercially one of them was Handley Page Limited. This aviation firm was established by Frederick Handley Page in 1909. They would increasingly develop large biplanes for long-haul routes. One of the routes was from England to India a major and lucrative route.
Shown in the smaller photo is a Handley Page just about to take off from the ground near the Calcutta race course. Inscribed on the back is “Just about to take off on a stretch of ground next to the Calcutta race course. The chap pointing is one of our native police, I am standing just behind him, in shorts”. The 2nd image is a close-up view probably of the pilots. Subsequently, flying boats became popular from England to India although for a short period. The viceroy to arrive first in India by flight was in a flying boat. Click on the image for better view.
Read more This Day In Aviation.
Did you know – in 1924 Handley Page Transport merged with two other airlines to form Imperial Airways, as the UK’s national airline service.
Past posts – M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Beautiful Lady (#6)., Santa Cruz Airport Bombay, 1949 Postcard.
