Talk:Handley Page Halifax

Solving the rudder over balance problems
There seems to be some confusion as to which model of the Halifax first had the enlarged D shaped fins which finally solved the rudder over balance problems. The article states, or implies, that it was the Merlin powered Halifax Mk II Series IA. This is incorrect, it was the MkIII version with the Hercules engines. Bingham's "Second to none" states this clearly on p29 and p30, plus I have never personally seen a picture of a Merlin engined Halifax with the enlarged D type fins. I have deleted it but if anyone can prove it is correct then reinstate it !--JustinSmith (talk) 21:32, 25 January 2021 (UTC)

HALIFAX Aeroplane Icons (Aeroplane Monthly) ISBN 978-1-907426-48-3

On page 74 an in-flight photograph of B.II Series 1a serial HR926 with D-type fin and rudder. On page 127 "Late-production aircraft delivered with D-type fins and rudders to cure 'rudder stall' problem." Photo can be found also in Pinterest: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cb/ee/ff/cbeeffa6dc5286a7838317b0d5621b68.jpg Saukko2 (talk) 10:58, 20 January 2022 (UTC)


 * The enlarged 'D-shaped' fins were installed immediately on all aircraft then on the production line, the problem being deemed serious enough for all new aircraft to be fitted with them from then on, regardless of Mark No.


 * Or to put it more succinctly, once the new fin shape had been approved then it became standard and no new aircraft emerged from the factory with the old fins fitted. Some aircraft were retro-fitted with the new fins but most requiring them were older aircraft that had reached the end of their useful lives, i.e, by then were 'tired', and were simply replaced with newer airframes already incorporating the modified fins.


 * As a rough guess I would surmise that the 'a' of the 'Series Ia' designation denoted the new rectangular fins, with the 'Series I' denoting a normal triangular fin B.II aircraft with the previous Series I improvements. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.8.126.91 (talk) 19:31, 23 April 2023 (UTC)


 * Photo of Merlin-powered Halifax with 'D-shaped' fins here at 35:29:  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.8.126.91 (talk) 09:10, 27 April 2023 (UTC)

Friday the 13th, LV907, full replica in Yorkshire
Handley Page Halifax Mk III The Museum’s Halifax reconstruction is based on a section of the fuselage of Halifax II, HR792, which carried out an emergency landing on the Isle of Lewis in 1945. A crofter, Mr McKenzie, purchased the fuselage section for use as a hencoop. The wings came from Hastings, TG536, at RAF Catterick. The reconstruction is named “Friday the 13th” in honour of Halifax, LV907, which completed 128 operations with 158 Squadron, and is representative of all examples built. https://yorkshireairmuseum.org/exhibits/world-war-two-aircraft/handley-page-halifax-iii/

The aircraft is named after the most illustrious Halifax to have flown with Bomber Command, the legendary "Friday the 13th" LV907, which flew 128 successful missions with 158 Squadron, from Lissett, East Yorkshire. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/4MyZI7SQTSy4wQ9D3SKH2A#:~:text=The%20aircraft%20is%20named%20after,%2C%20from%20Lissett%2C%20East%20Yorkshire.&text=airfield%2C%20near%20York.-,The%20restoration%20represents%20a%20Halifax%20which%20flew%20128%20missions%20during,the%20record%20for%20this%20type.

VE Day 75: How a famous WWII bomber was brought back to life, video May 2020 Yorkshire Air Museum built a replica Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4oxqSMi8R4 This is a replica of one of the most successful bombers of WWII. Nicknamed ‘Friday the 13th’, it flew 128 successful missions - more than any other Halifax aircraft. Of the 6,000 of Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers, not one was saved for posterity, which makes this one special. And it’s why the Yorkshire Air Museum took 20 years to peace together

Ours is not the original Friday the 13th

Our Halifax was created over many years by a team of volunteers using components and sub assemblies from various original Halifax aircraft. Brought together and restored by the Museum over 20 years, our final Halifax is a faithful recreation of the Halifax bomber both inside and out. We chose to commemorate “Friday the 13th” as the aircraft which was the most famous and certainly the most successful Halifax bomber of World War Two. https://yorkshireairmuseum.org/latest-news/friday-the-13th-nine-things-you-may-now-know-about-her/ Peter K Burian (talk) 15:03, 5 March 2021 (UTC)


 * Not sure what your suggestion is for article improvement, I cant see an issue with the current text. MilborneOne (talk) 18:06, 5 March 2021 (UTC)

False picture "A Halifax pilot"
The cockpit in the picture can not be that of a Halifax, the framing is different. Saukko2 (talk) 11:14, 20 January 2022 (UTC)