Handley Page H.P.20

Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1921 · light aircraft

The Handley Page H.P.20 was an experimental monoplane built from a de Havilland DH.9A to study controllable slots and slotted ailerons. It was the first aircraft to fly with controllable slots.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.15 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

High-wing monoplane converted from a DH.9A biplane, with a thick semi-cantilever wing
Full-span leading-edge slats and slotted ailerons
Gravity fuel tank mounted high over the centre section

A DH.9A-type fuselage carrying a thick high monoplane wing with a straight leading edge, braced by steeply rising struts, with a cut-out in the trailing edge and a high cylindrical fuel tank on top.

Specifications

The Handley Page H.P.20 has a length of 9.15 m (30 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.5 m (48 ft).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Handley Page took out a master patent for controllable wing slots in 1919 and tested the idea with the fixed-slot H.P.17. The H.P.20 used the DH.9A engine, fuselage and tail with an entirely new high wing, and first flew with slots closed on 24 February 1921 at Cricklewood. About a month later it flew with controllable slots, landing at about 43 mph. The Air Ministry paid for it and took delivery in February 1922.

Variants

A single aircraft was built. It followed the H.P.17, a DH.9A with fixed slots.

Where you'll see it

Used for slot research; it never entered RAF service as a combat aircraft.

Related aircraft

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