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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0405.PDF
FEBRUARY 21, 1935- FLIGHT. 203 FLYING COMFORT The Miles " Falcon " in Production : Features to Appeal to the Private Owner: Impressions During a Test THERE should be a large demand for the Miles "Falcon," which has just gone into production, because it seems to have nearly every desirable feature which private owners will require in an aeroplane of this type: Strength—as with all Mr. Miles' designs, the factors are more than the legal minimum; comfort—plenty of room for four people and ample space for luggage; speed—we found the A.S.I. showing 122-125 m.p.h. at normal r.p.m.; slow landing —with flaps down we touched down '' off the clock '' and ran only a few yards; stability—hands or feet off, the "Falcon" flew safely. Taking the flying characteristics in more detail, because Flight has already dealt with the structural features (August 23. 1934. and January 10 of this year), a prolonged trial showed that we were justified in thinking that the "Falcon," in its production form, would be even more pleasant to fly than was the "Hawk Major," although when we tried the latter machine it did not seem possible to ask for more. A slight increase in the dihedral of the wings has resulted in more lateral stability, so that the "Falcon" almost flies itself, but it has not, as is so often the case with a machine having this characteristic to a marked extent, lost any of its manoeuvrability. In addition, the "Falcon" is both direc- tionally stable and has its fin surface so nicely proportioned that turns can be made, and the machine flown for all normal purposes, without touching the rudder bar. A Good Outlook The unusual shape of the windscreen enables the pilot to at well forward, so that he has an excellent outlook when oying, landing or taxi-ing. The outlook when landing is also neiped by the nose-down attitude in which the "Falcon" can be glided when the flaps are lowered. Probably there is 0 machine in which an approach is so easy as in this. The yurauhcally operated flaps can be used in exactly the same steJ aS u brakes on a car, and this ability to lengthen or epen the glide at will proved of inestimable benefit when " fmengmhcuts' ^ H did last Sunday. and we had to land sion fTh e We were>" so to sPeak. Actually, the posses- aent° 1 £ fl-apS robbed sucl1 a proceeding of any excite- 8howini? incident, which was due to a stuck fuel gauge Drn«* fi a suPPlv which was non-existent, served only to Prove their great value with a f aif H is deliKhtfuI to throttle back, lower the flaps with a''!7 ffl "eS °f the hydraulic PumP handle, and then. Of thp +K °f en8ine' cruise along at less than 50 m.p.h. 'Gipsy%i » pr?ducts from Reading, the five-seater with now well a£ ,engine' to which we referred last January, is has bwn de H^ * " Falcon>" also with the larger engine, (Right) The flaps seen from behind A view which gives a good idea of the area of the The clean undercarriage and the new windscr
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