Photograph of prototype Hastings?

[robin bird]

Anyone know of a photograph of the protyotype Handley Page Hastings TG 499? I cannot find one for my research into the Airborne Forces Experimental Establisment inwhich dad served. I believe it later crashed. Thank you.

[davew]

Robin

There are two photographs of TG499 with a paratechnicon pannier in the book HP Aircraft since 1907, CH Barnes, Putnam revised reprint of 1995.

I have a Flight photograph of her sister TG500, also of AAEE, should that be a suitable substitute.

DaveW

[robin bird]

Thank you DaveW. I will follow it up.

[robstitt]

Robin,

Photo of TG499 with pannier here: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1523498

Click on photo for larger view.

Pannier skin looks well-wrinkled.

Robert

[David Duxbury]

Holy smoke! That is a primitive looking device, no wonder it caused the aircraft to crash! It is also a wonder that an aircraft designed to an official specification could not carry its designed load in the interior of the actual airframe, rather than such an add-on monstrosity like that. Thinking sideways, perhaps the pannier was designed at short notice to accommodate something that was as large and ugly as itself, and had to be rushed to a foreign land far from home? I imagine the obvious wrinkling was more or less a given considering the thing has flat sides.

[robin bird]

Robert and co, thanks for that. Hastings TG499 and TG533 were used extensively at RAF Beaulieu for parachute drops, anti tank gun drops and pannier loading (TG533), also the dropping of jeeps. 28 panniers were placed on a roller mat inside TG533 which were then despatched in flight through a large exit door. A hairy experience for the pilot and dispatchers!