Boulton Paul P.120

The Boulton Paul P.120 was a British research aircraft produced to investigate delta wing aerodynamics in the early 1950s. It was very similar to the tailless Boulton Paul P.111 apart from having a horizontal tailplane.

P.120
Boulton Paul P.120 VT 951 in its "black" paint scheme
Role Research aircraft
Manufacturer Boulton Paul
First flight 6 August 1952
Retired 1952
Status Cancelled
Number built 1
Developed from Boulton Paul P.111

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 and differed from the P.111 in having a swept fin and rudder with horizontal tail surfaces high on the fin to improve longitudinal and directional stability. It had essentially the same wing as the P.111 in the latter's greatest span configuration, an unclipped delta; the wing tips of the P.120 were not removable or replaceable, but they could be rotated differentially or together for lateral or longitudinal trim. Just inboard of these tips the P.120 gained a pair of wingfences. The fuselages of the two aircraft were also identical, except towards the rear.[1]

Testing and evaluation

Test flying took place at Boscombe Down.[2] Although there had been a problem on its first test flight on 6 August 1952 by test pilot "Ben" Gunn, when the tailplane incidence required for takeoff in the available distance was misjudged, the P.120 exhibited pleasant flying characteristics over 11 hours of flight time. Shortly before the Farnborough Air Show of September 1952, the previously unpainted P.120 received a gloss black (with yellow trim) finish and immediately gained the nickname "Black Widowmaker." On 28 August, Gunn encountered severe flutter, which led to the loss of the whole port elevon. Unable to keep the aircraft flying and despite the dramatic nickname he ejected safely, making the first ejection from a delta winged aircraft, though 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, making the P.120 the last Boulton Paul design to fly.

Specifications (P.120)

Data from [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 29 ft 7 1⁄2 in (9.030 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft 5 1⁄2 in (10.198 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 1⁄2 in (2.908 m)
  • Wing area: 290.13 sq ft (26.954 m2)
  • Empty weight: 10,656 lb (4,833 kg)
  • Gross weight: 12,580 lb (5,706 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Nene RN.3 turbojet, 5,100 lbf (23 kN) thrust

References

Notes
  1. Brew 1993, pp. 302–307.
  2. Brew 1993, p. 305.
  3. Brew 1993, p. 307

Bibliography
  • Brew, Alec. Boulton Paul Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1993. ISBN 0-85177-860-7.
  • Buttler, Tony (2017). British Secret Projects: Jet Fighters since 1950 (2nd ed.). Manchester: Crecy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-910-80905-1.
  • Buttler, Tony & Delezenne, Jean-Louis (2012). X-Planes of Europe: Secret Research Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946-1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-902-10921-3.
  • Jones, Barry. British Experimental Turbojet Aircraft. London: Crowood, 2007. ISBN 978-1-86126-860-0.
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