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)

'rudder stall' problem." - it was the fins that were stalling, not the rudders themselves. The resulting turbulent flow over the stalled triangular fins caused the rudders to over-balance slamming the rudders hard over to one side. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.8.126.91 (talk) 14:52, 9 June 2025 (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)

Typo but I don't know how it should be corrected

"The introduction of the successful P.13/36 candidates was delayed orders for Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley and Vickers Wellington bombers." - Doesn't quite make sense, but I don't know if this should be "...candidates delayed orders...", "...candidates was delayed by orders..." or "...candidates was delaying orders...".2A00:23CC:D383:5B01:3DE0:B579:1E02:8A37 (talk) 08:12, 25 August 2024 (UTC)

Fixed. If you go back through an article's history (history tab at top of page) and look at earlier versions you can often discover what it originally said then you can fix it yourself. Nimbus (Cumulus nimbus floats by) 08:47, 25 August 2024 (UTC)