The Handley Page HP.14, also designated Handley Page R/200 was a prototype British naval reconnaissance aircraft of World War I, capable of operating from the decks of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers or as a floatplane. Only three were built, the Parnall Panther being preferred.

Design and development

The R/200 was designed in 1917 to meet an Admiralty requirement for a two-seat reconnaissance fighter capable of operating either as a floatplane or from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, the flush deck HMS Argus and the partly converted cruiser HMS Furious. The R/200 was a small single-bay biplane powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) geared Hispano-Suiza 8 V-8 engine with a frontal radiator. Handley Page received an order for six prototypes in summer 1917.^[1]

The first two prototypes, fitted with floats were flown in December 1917, with the third prototype, fitted with a wheeled undercarriage flying in February 1918. Test results were poorer than the competing Parnall Panther, and as Handley Page was concentrating on production and development of the O/400 and V/1500 heavy bombers, the remaining three prototypes, together with a prospective production order for 20 aircraft were cancelled in March 1918.^[2]

Specifications (R/200) (landplane)

Data from Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907 ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Height: 10 ft 9.5 in (3.289 m) ^[4]
• Wing area: 390 sq ft (36 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,882 lb (854 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,990 lb (1,356 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8B V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn) at 6,500 ft (1,981 m)^[4]
• Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
• Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,048 m) in 29 minutes 30 seconds^[4]
• Wing loading: 7.67 lb/sq ft (37.4 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.067 hp/lb (0.110 kW/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 1x .303 in (7.70 mm) Lewis gun