Handley Page Manx

HP.75 Manx

Manufacturer: Handley Page
Designed by: Dr Gustav Lachmann
First flight: June 11, 1943
Number built: 1

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

Design and development

The Manx (which appropriately shares the same name as a breed of vestigial-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.

Construction of the prototype was subcontracted to Dart Aircraft of Dunstable. 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.

An unorthodox aspect of the Manx design incorporated into the aircraft was that the main undercarriage was retractable, while the nose gear remained fixed.

Taxi tests began in early 1940, but inspection revealed serious deterioration of the wing structures, which required extensive repair. These and further problems delayed the maiden flight until June 1943 (sources conflict as to whether it was 11 or 25 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.

Specifications (HP.75 Manx)

Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II

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 (1,361 kg)
Loaded weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
Powerplant: 2x— de Havilland Gipsy Major inline, 140 hp (104 kW) each

Performance

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

Comparable aircraft

Miles Libellula
Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52

Bibliography

Barnes, Chris. "Tailess Experimental". Aeroplane Monthly, January 1980, Volume 8 No. 1. pp. 4-9.
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

Handley Page Manx Pictures and Handley Page Manx for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia