Handley Page Manx

infobox Aircraft
name = HP.75 Manx
type = Experimental
manufacturer = Handley Page


caption =
designer = Dr Gustav Lachmann
first flight = June 11, 1943
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The H.P. 75 Manx was an experimental aircraft built by Handley Page that flew test flights in the 1940s. It was notable for its unconventional design characteristics, being a twin-engined tailless design of pusher configuration.

Another unorthodox aspect incorporated into the aircraft was that the main undercarriage was retractable, while the nose gear remained fixed.

The Manx (which appropriately shares the same name as a breed of vestigal-tailed cat) was built to participate in a flight research program investigating problems associated with tailless aircraft. The partially-swept wings supported the vertical stabilizers of a twin tail, with elevons for pitch and roll control.

There were serious issues encountered early in the development phase that caused a delay in the testing program. After it was delivered in 1939, redesigns had to be made because the Manx was too heavy, and there were also structural integrity issues with the main spar.

Taxi tests began in early 1940, and there were further problems discovered that delayed the maiden flight until June, 1943 (sources conflict as to whether it was the 11th or 25th of June.) The first flight was terminated early when the canopy was lost in mid-flight, but the pilot managed to land the plane safely. The Manx had only accumulated about 17 hours of flight time over approximately 30 flights when flight tests were finally terminated in April 1946. The sole example built was scrapped in 1952.

pecifications (HP.75 Manx)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II [ref Jane's|Handley Page Manx|126]
crew=2 (pilot in enclosed cockpit in front, with observer behind)
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 18 ft
length alt=5.5 m
span main=40 ft
span alt=12.2 m
height main=
height alt=
area main= 246 ft²
area alt= 22.8 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,000 lb
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 4,000 lb
loaded weight alt= 1,820 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=de Havilland Gipsy Major
type of prop=inline
number of props=2
power main= 140 hp
power alt=
power original=
max speed main=
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 150 mph
cruise speed alt= 240 km/h
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 15,000 ft
ceiling alt= 4,575 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
*Miles Libellula
*Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52
see also=
lists=
*List of experimental aircraft

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Barnes, C. H. "Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907". London: Putnam & Company, Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-85177-803-8.
* Clayton, Donald C. "Handley Page, an Aircraft Album". Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1969. ISBN 0-7110-0094-8.
* Jackson, A.J. "British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2". Putnam & Company, Ltd., 1973 (2nd Edition). ISBN 0-370-10010-7

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=234 British Aircraft Directory]
* [http://www.handleypage.com/Aircraft_hp75.html Handley Page aircraft]
* [http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/HANDLEY%20PAGE%20HP75.htm British Aircraft of World War II]
* [http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/flying%20wings/britain.htm British Flying Wings at century-of-flight.net]