The Handley Page Type R was a small two-seat biplane for reconnaissance duties and fitted into the N2A category of Admiralty classifications.
The 200 hp Hispano Suiza was fitted with a two-blade propeller in the landplane version, N29, and a four-blade propeller on the floatplane version, N28, which was flown from the Welsh Harp reservoir, Hendon, by Gordon Bell in 1917. The wings of both versions folded and were fitted with flap-like variable camber trailing edges. Armament comprised of a single Lewis gun mounted on a Scarff-ring on the observer's rear cockpit.
Serial numbers N27 to N32 inclusive were allocated to the R200 but probably N28 and N29 were the only machines built. The type did not obtain production orders from the Admiralty.