The Duxford Aviation Society

Handley Page HP81 Hermes 4 G-ALDG (Fuselage only) This is the only incomplete aircraft on the line at Duxford and is the sole surviving reminder of a once great airliner. Developed from the Hastings military transport, the Hermes was the first purpose built, pressurised, airliner built in Britain after World War2. The Hermes was used by BOAC on its route to West and South Africa from 1950 to 2953. G-ALDG was delivered to BOAC in March 1950 and was given the name 'Horsa'. In 1954 it was sold to Airwork who used it for trooping contracts until 1959. It was acquired by Silver City who operated trooping flight to West Germany, it was also used on holiday flights. DG retired in 1962 and its fuselage was used by British United and then British Caledonian for crew training. It then passed into the hands of the British Airports Authority Fire Service, it was never used for destructive training but for smoke evacuation training. The fuselage was moved to Duxford in January 1981 and is all that remains of the 25 Hermes IV's which were built. Because of its fragmented condition it was not a simple restoration project and one of the earliest tasks was the design and construction of the cradle upon which it now rests. Having no wings meant that its undercarriage had long since disappeared and it was not able to stand unaided. A number of temporary supporting structures had proved damaging to its structural integrity. The interior of this aircraft has been restored by a small group of dedicated workers and this work is still the major thrust of the restoration. Some exterior work has taken place, mainly to treat the worst of the surface corrosion and to ensure that it is reasonably weather proof.