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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1003.PDF
4'2C FLIGHT. LPP.IL 23, 1936. MILES SINCE 1933, when-the original Miles Hawk appeared, Phillips and Powis Aircraft have gone from strength to strength, and their range of machines, from the M.5, or Sparrow liawk, to the twin-engmed Peregrine, numbers about eight, if the special Air Ministry machine, known as the Hawcon,* is included. The chief designer, Mr. F. G. Miles, can be said to have done as much as anyone to develop the cantilever low-wing tradition in this country. Furthermore, the Hawk Major, first introduced in 1934, was the first British aeroplane to appear with split flaps, and since that time all new Miles machines have been fitted with these aids to slower flying and steeper approaches. The Miles Falcon, a four-seater cabin version of the Major, was first produced with a Gipsy Major engine, in which form it cruised at 125 m.p.h. Later, the fitting of the Gipsy Six as an alternative power unit raised this speed to 155 m.p.h. or more, and a, three-seater version of this machine won last year's King's Cup and broke both the out and home Cape records in the hands of Fit. Lt. Rose. The Falcou has a number of interesting control features, including the hydraulically operated flaps and a central control column between the two front seats (when these are so arranged), and a special five-seater charter ver sion, known as the Merlin, has put in good work both here and in India. The Night Hawk is a special trainer for night and blind flying, based on the Falcon. The specification oi the standard Falcon is as follows : Weight empty, i,30olb.; disposable load, ooolb.; span folded, 15ft. ioin.; length, 25ft.; maximum speed, 145 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 125 m.p.h.; landing speed, 44 m.p.h.; range, 615 miles. The Hawk Major was the first high-performance private- ownei type to be put into general production, and is an open two-seater which, with a Gipsy Major engine, cruises at some thing rather better than 130 m.p.h. Derived from the standard model, the Hawk Trainer has a slightly greater span and wider cockpits to accommodate the variegated equipment necessary in modern training machines, and this machine is also produced as a rather more luxurious private-owner type. The Trainer, incidentally, took second and third places in last year's King's Cup race. Designed by Mrs. Miles for the King's Cup, the Miles M.5 is similar in many respects to the Major, but the wings do not fold and the undercarriage is wide enough to be well clear of the slipstream. This machine, which is reputed to be one of the most pleasant in its handling qualities, will be a two-seater in its production form. During the eliminating race Mr. Miles averaged more than 160 m.p.h., including stops, in this machine The new Peregrine lies somewhat outside the light aeroplane category. This machine has already been described in.Flight, but it is now possible to publish a drawing of the interior, which appears on p. 449. I! .11 • i 81 In its three-seater form the pilot of the Miles Falcon—in this case the Gipsy Six model—is seated centrally. As a four-seater the third passenger sits beside the pilot, who has the control column on his right. The arrangements for passengers and luggage are shown in the diagram. UK3GA6E The specification of the Hawk Major is as follows: Weight empty, 1,1501b.; disposable load, 75olb.; span folded, 13ft. ioin.; length, 24ft.; maximum speed, 150 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 135 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, 1,300 ft./min.; landing speed, 42 m.p.h.; endurance, 4.5 hr. Makers: Phillips and Povvis Aircraft, Ltd., Woodley Aero drome, Reading. The machine shown on the left is the Hawk Trainer, which differs only in detail rroffl the standard Major, un the right is the Falcon Shc-actually the Kings Cup winner bein^ flown by Fit. Lt. Rose himself.
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