Handley Page HP.14

HP.14 / Type R/200

Manufacturer: Handley Page
First flight: 1917
Status: Prototype
Number built: 3

The Handley Page HP.14, also designated Handley Page R/200 was a prototype British naval reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War, capable of operating from the decks of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers or as a floatplane. Only three were built, the Parnall Panther being preferred.

Design and development

The R/200 was designed in 1917 to meet an Admiralty requirement for a two seat reconnaissance-fighter capable of operating either as a floatplane or from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, the flush deck HMS Argus and the part converted cruiser HMS Furious. The R/200 was a small single-bay biplane powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) geared Hispano-Suiza 8 V-8 engine with a frontal radiator. Handley Page received an order for six prototypes in summer 1917.

The first two prototypes, fitted with floats were flown in December 1917, with the third prototype, fitted with a wheeled undercarriage flying in February 1918. Test results were poorer than the competing Parnall Panther, and as Handley Page was concentrating on production and development of the O/400 and V/1500 heavy bombers, the remaining three prototypes, together with a prospective production order for 20 aircraft were cancelled in March 1918.

Specifications (R/200) (landplane)

Data from Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907

General characteristics

Length: 25 ft 6 in (7.74 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.98 m)
Height: 10 ft 9½ in (3.29 m)
Wing area: 390 ft² (36.2 m²)
Empty weight: 1,882 lb (855 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,990 lb (1,360 kg)
Powerplant: 1x— Hispano-Suiza 8 water cooled V-8, 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 83 knots (95 mph, 153 km/h) at 6,500 ft (1,980 m)
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
Wing loading: 7.67 lb/ft² (37.6 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.067 hp/lb (0.11 kW/kg)
Clomb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 29 min 30 s

Armament

Guns: one .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun

Comparable aircraft

Parnall Panther
Port Victoria Grain Griffin

Barnes, C. H. Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907. London: Putnam, 1976. ISBN 0 370 00030 7.

Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.

Handley Page HP.14 Pictures and Handley Page HP.14 for Sale.

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Source: WikiPedia