Boulton Paul P.120

infobox Aircraft
name = P.120
type = research aircraft
manufacturer = Boulton Paul



caption = Boulton Paul P.120 "VT 951" in its "black" paint scheme
designer =
first flight = 6 August 1952,
introduced =
retired = 1952
status = Cancelled
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
unit cost =
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.

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. [ Brew 1993, p. 301]

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." [Brew 1993, p. 305.] 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.

pecifications (P.120)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet

ref=

crew=1
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 29 ft 7½ in
length alt=9.03 m
span main=33 ft 5½ in
span alt=10.20 m
span sweep=
height main=9 ft 6.5 in
height alt=2.91 m
area main= 290.13 ft²
area alt= 26.96 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 10,656 lb
empty weight alt= 4,844 kg
loaded weight main=12,580 lb
loaded weight alt= 5,718 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (jet)=Rolls-Royce Nene
type of jet=
number of jets=1
thrust main= 5,100 lb st
thrust alt= 22.7 kN
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=

max speed main= 648 mph
max speed alt= 563 knots, 1,043 km/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 35,000 ft
ceiling alt= 10,700 m
climb rate main= 9,400 ft/min
climb rate alt= 47.8 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

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.

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=517 Boulton Paul P.111]
* [http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/planes/boultonPaul.htm Boulton Paul Museum]
* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=517 British Aircraft Directory]