Delanne 20-T
Delanne · France · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The Delanne 20-T was a French experimental tandem-wing aircraft designed by Maurice Delanne to demonstrate the stability and performance advantages of the tandem configuration, in which a rear wing replaces the conventional tailplane. The concept offered inherent pitch stability without the induced drag penalty of a horizontal stabiliser.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Short rear fuselage with the second wing mounted near the tail cone |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem-wing layout with no conventional tailplane — rear wing acts as stabiliser
- Short rear fuselage with the second wing mounted near the tail cone
- Single tractor engine and two separate wing surfaces in tandem
The absent conventional tailplane and the clearly visible rear lifting surface distinguish any Delanne tandem-wing design from conventional monoplanes of the same era.
Specifications
- The Delanne 20-T has a length of 6.78 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.86 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 262 km/h (163 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Delanne was a persistent advocate of the tandem-wing layout during the 1930s and 1940s. The 20-T flew in 1939 and demonstrated acceptable handling, but the fall of France in 1940 curtailed further development. Work resumed under German occupation but the design never reached production.
Variants
The 20-T was one of a series of Delanne tandem-wing demonstrators; the Delanne 10 was a larger, more ambitious fighter-concept development of the same principle.
Where you'll see it
Strictly experimental, the 20-T influenced French aerodynamic research but was never adopted for military or commercial service.
Related aircraft
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