During our behind the scenes work we heard about other attempts to build HP42 replicas. All had stated they would use similar modern engines, as it was not be possible to find original Bristol Jupiter's, apart from in museums. We always understood it was imperative to use the original type of engine to enable us to achieve our goal of a faithful replica. The Bristol Jupiter's are important for two reasons. Firstly, the engine was not cowled and therefore visible. To use any other engine type would have made the aircraft look different. Secondly, only a Jupiter would give the right sound for which the aircraft was known. We are proud to announce that during our years of searching we have overcome this and will be using Bristol Jupiter's in our HP42.

At the moment we cannot be more specific for security reasons, but the aircraft will be based in this country. The aircraft will be able to be viewed during and after completion. Further details will be published as soon as we can.

The aircraft is only one part of the project. The infrastructure that has been worked on includes a museum tracing the history of commercial aviation based around Imperial Airways, an educational programme for schools and colleges throughout both this country and overseas, re-enactment's of original routes, a book and documentary which is presently ongoing, and exciting additions to the exhibition, to mention but a few.

As the project progresses we will be able to release more about what the aircraft will be doing, through the website, stand, club, and press, so keep your eyes peeled. However there will also be times when we are promoting and working overseas. During these periods, and due to sponsors wishes to keep certain activities quiet, only historical information will be given. It is now only a matter of time until our original aim of constructing a true HP42 replica is achieved, but rest assured it will be turning up everywhere so you won't be able to miss it!

In early 1928 Imperial Airways issued specifications of aircraft required to inaugurate new routes to link the British Empire by air, and Handley Page was delighted to receive contracts for four Handley Page H.P.42E (Eastern) and four H.P.42W (Western) airliners for use on Imperial Airways' long-range routes and European destinations respectively. It was some years before it was discovered that the real Handley Page designation for the H.P.42W was H.P.45.

Large unequal-span biplanes of all-metal construction except for fabric covering of aerofoil surfaces and the rear fuselage, these aircraft had wings braced by massive Warren girder struts, a biplane tail unit incorporating three fins and rudders, substantial tailwheel landing gear, and a powerplant of four Bristol Jupiter radial engines. These comprised four 490 h.p. (365 kW) Jupiter XIFs for the H.P.42Es and four supercharged Jupiter XFBMs for the H.P.42Ws, mounted two on the upper wing and one on each side of the fuselage on the lower wing. New ground was broken by the flight crew being accommodated in an enclosed flight deck, high in the fuselage nose. Passenger accommodation was in two cabins, forward and aft of the wing, but varied according to intended use. The H.P.42Es, for use on the Indian and South African routes, each seated six (later 12) forward and 12 aft; the H.P.42Ws for European routes each had seats for 18 forward and 20 aft, but reduced baggage capacity.

Although a number of short hops had been made during taxiing trials, the first true flight was recorded on 14th November 1930 by an H.P.42E, named subsequently Hannibal. The first for European routes, named Heracles, was delivered in September 1931, and the names of the remainder of this family of large airliners were Horsa, Hanno and Hadrian (H.P.42Es) and Horatius, Hengist and Helena (H.P.42Ws). Many people still living have nostalgic memories of these fine aircraft; slow they may have been, once described by Anthony Fokker as incorporating built-in headwinds, but they had an unmistakable aura of grace and safety. The latter characteristic was supreme, for when the H.P.42s were finally withdrawn from service on 1st September 1939 they had recorded almost a decade of service without causing a single fatal accident.