Handley Page V/1500 J1936 HMA Old Carthusian, the subject of this article, was the only example of its type that flew in anger. Old Carthusian was the third prototype, originally serialled 89465.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

Old Carthusian in India in early 1919, roped off from onlookers and awaiting the next leg of its flight. From the second prototype onwards the tail unit was redesigned with a 50 per cent increase in gap and revised fins to improve longitudinal and directional stability. Spanning 126ft, the aircraft had a maximum weight of 30,000lb.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

Towering 23ft high, the V/1500 attracted attention wherever it went. The cavernous fuselage accommodated the 7,500lb maximum bomb load.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

The perfect backdrop. A camel owner poses in front of of Old Carthusian during a stop in India.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

Old Carthusian being reassembled in an impressive tree-trunk scaffolding arrangement at Lahore in May 1919, after it had been blown over in a storm. It set off on its offensive sortie to Jalalabad later that month, on the 24th.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

Powered by two tandem pairs of Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines, developing 1,500 h.p. between them (hence the designation V/1500), J1936 had a cruising speed of about 75 m.p.h. On the Bandar Abbas-Karachi leg of its England-India journey it lost the two aft engines, flying the last 35 miles on just the two forward Eagles with their two-bladed propellers.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918