Boulton Paul P.120
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| P.120 | |
|---|---|
 Boulton Paul P.120 VT 951 in its "black" paint scheme |
|
| Type | research aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Boulton Paul |
| Maiden flight | 6 August 1952, |
| Retired | 1952 |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Boulton Paul P.111 |
The Boulton Paul P.120 was a British research aircraft produced to investigate delta-wing aerodynamics in the early 1950s.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
The P.120 followed the earlier Boulton Paul P.111 delta-wing experimental aircraft. It was produced for the Air Ministry to specification E.27/49. From the initial specification issued in 1949 it flew on 6 August 1952. It differed in having a swept fin and rudder with a horizontal tail surface near the tip of the fin to improve longitudinal and directional stability. [1]
[edit] Testing and evaluation
Test flying took place at Boscombe Down, and prior to an appearance at the Farnborough Air Show, the unpainted P.120 received a gloss black (with yellow trim) paint scheme and gained the nickname, "Black-Widowmaker." [2] Although there had been a near-disaster on its first test flight when the takeoff distance was misjudged, the P.120 had exhibited pleasant flying characteristics over 11 hours of flight time. However, on 28 August 1952, test pilot "Ben" Gunn encountered a severe flutter due to the loss of the port elevon and tab control. Unable to keep the aircraft flying, he was forced to eject (the first such event linked to a delta wing aircraft) and the P.120 was lost.
Although plans were made to convert the earlier P.111 to the P.120 configuration, a decision was made to suspend further development, marking the end of the Bolton Paul's aircraft operations.
[edit] Specifications (P.120)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 29 ft 7½ in (9.03 m)
- Wingspan: 33 ft 5½ in (10.20 m)
- Height: 9 ft 6.5 in (2.91 m)
- Wing area: 290.13 ft² (26.96 m²)
- Empty weight: 10,656 lb (4,844 kg)
- Loaded weight: 12,580 lb (5,718 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Nene , 5,100 lb st (22.7 kN)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 648 mph (563 knots, 1,043 km/h)
- Service ceiling 35,000 ft (10,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 9,400 ft/min (47.8 m/s)
[edit] References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Brew, Alec. Boulton Paul Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1993. ISBN 0-85177-860-7.
- Jones, Barry. British Experimental Turbojet Aircraft. London: Crowood, 2007. ISBN 978-1861268600.
[edit] External links
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