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NOT a warbird, but very nice anyway.

Posted by MGM on Fri Nov 30, 2001 07:46:40 AM

In Aeroplane Monthly this month is a large article on the Handley Page HP.42.

Tony and me were talking about these aeroplanes a couple of weeks back, and our desire to see a reconstruction of one, hopefully to fly.

There's an intriguing bit on the disappearance of one in March 1940.
It was G-AAGX "Hannibal", and went missing on a flight from Karachi to Alexandria.
Last report of it's position was over the Gulf Of Oman, but it and the passengers and crew have never been seen or heard of since.
It has long been considered that it must have gone down in the Gulf, although there were reports after the war of the "skeleton" of a large aircraft seen somewhere on the coast, but never confirmed.

Of course with all good aircraft mysteries there is a "conspiracy theory" attached to it. (what's a conspiracy theory ?)

One of the passengers was a VIP Government official, with the usual important papers.
One theory is that it may have got shot down, but also that it suffered structural failure.

The most intriguing bit though, is that the man, Charles Butt, who made recent enquiries as to it's disappearance, was "warned off" by the UK Government Agency he consulted.

Curiouser and curiouser said Tony's friend the little blonde one...........


There was also a bit on the possibilities of building a new one, which should get Tony excited, and apparently there have been quite a lot of enquiries over the years about it.
One recently, which has now gone a bit quiet, was the approach by a Middle Eastern prince to several restorers via an intermediary, with the view to building a flying reproduction.

Now.....I don't know his real name, but I think I know exactly where I can find this mysterious prince.......if it is actually the right prince of course......

Yes Tony, it is the one I coincidentally happened to mention to you at 1.00am this morning !

And if I'm not wrong, access to this prince may just make it easier to go looking round places like Masirah etc..........and I have already started things off on the right foot with him earlier due to the respect I showed to him and his people............much more civilised than flashing suitcases full of cash around........

Trouble is ,I'm none too keen, personally, to go searching that particular area right now for anything........

I don't of course know if there is any connection between the disappearance of Hannibal........and a Middle Eastern prince wanting to build one...........

TTFN
Mick

PS- Tony......if you haven't bought Aeroplane yet........go out and buy a copy......!


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