Westland-Hill Pterodactyl Mk V
Westland · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · light aircraft
The Westland-Hill Pterodactyl Mk V was the culmination of Geoffrey Hill's tailless aircraft research, a two-seat pusher monoplane with swept wings and tip-mounted drag rudders that dispensed entirely with a conventional tail.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- tailless swept-wing pusher monoplane with no conventional tail
- forward-swept outer wing panels with drag rudders at tips
- two-seat cabin in the broad centre-section
The absence of any tail fin or horizontal stabiliser is the defining feature; the swept wing with its distinctive drooping tip rudders and the pusher engine in the centre-section make the aircraft unmistakable.
Specifications
- The Westland-Hill Pterodactyl Mk V has a length of 6.4 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.22 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Geoffrey Hill began Pterodactyl development in the early 1920s, progressively refining his tailless concept through five marks. The Mk V of 1934 was the most ambitious, intended to demonstrate the viability of a tailless fighter. The single prototype flew successfully but the concept was not adopted for production.
Variants
The five Pterodactyl marks progressed from simple gliders to the powered Mk IV sesquiplane and finally the Mk V two-seat monoplane; no production aircraft were built.
Where you'll see it
Purely an experimental aircraft, the Pterodactyl Mk V contributed to understanding of tailless aerodynamics and influenced later British interest in delta and flying-wing configurations.
Related aircraft
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