Handley Page Manx

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HP.75 Manx
Type	Experimental
Manufacturer	Handley Page
Designed by	Dr Gustav Lachmann
Maiden flight	June 11, 1943
Number built	1

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 unorthidox 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.

[edit] Specifications (HP.75 Manx)

Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot in enclosed cockpit in front, with observer behind)
• Length: 18 ft (5.5 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft (12.2 m)
• Height: ()
• Wing area: 246 ft² (22.8 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,000 lb ()
• Loaded weight: 4,000 lb (1,820 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× de Havilland Gipsy Major inline, 140 hp () each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 150 mph (240 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,575 m)

[edit] References

1. ^ Jane, Fred T. “Handley Page Manx.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. p. 126. ISBN 1 85170 493 0.

• British Aircraft Directory
• Handley Page aircraft
• British Aircraft of World War II
• British Flying Wings at century-of-flight.net

[edit] See also

 

Comparable aircraft

Miles Libellula - Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52

Designation sequence

HP.67 "Hastings" - HP.68 "Hermes" - HP.70, HP.71 "Halifax" - HP.75 Manx - HP.80 "Victor" - HP.81 "Hermes" - HP.82 "Hermes" - HP.88 -

Related lists

List of experimental aircraft