Handley Page Herald HPR.3 Herald

In the mid-1950s Handley Page developed a fast short-range regional airliner meant to replace the Douglas DC-3, particularly in the developing world. The design, the HPR.3 Herald, came from the drawing office of Handley Page (Reading) — the former Miles Aircraft site — and was an extensive redevelopment of the Miles Marathon, with its characteristic high wing.

After lengthy consultation with DC-3 operators it was decided to power it with piston engines rather than turboprops, which the small airlines it targeted considered risky. Handley Page also preferred four engines, and chose the new 870 hp (650 kW) 14-cylinder Alvis Leonides Major radial with three-bladed propellers. At almost the same moment the Dutch firm Fokker made the opposite choice for the same market and powered its F27 Friendship with two Rolls-Royce Darts.

The HPR.3 carried up to 44 passengers in a pressurised cabin that converted quickly for freight thanks to the high wing, nosewheel undercarriage and large front and rear doors. With generous flaps, it was designed to cruise at 224 mph (360 km/h), reach 1,640 miles (2,640 km), take off and land in under 500 yards (460 m) and climb initially at over 1,800 ft/min. It was named "Herald" in August 1954 because the name translated easily into French and Spanish, and when the first prototype flew at Radlett on 25 August 1955 — three months before the Friendship — there were 29 orders from Queensland Airlines, Australian National Airways and Lloyd Aéreo Colombiano.

It was a mirage. The Dart had proved itself in the Vickers Viscount: Queensland and Australian National cancelled in favour of Friendships, the Colombian contract stalled over currency problems and Air Kruise's interest ended when it was taken over by British Aviation Services. Before the second prototype was finished, Handley Page found itself with no orders at all and a market that wanted turboprops.