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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1107.PDF
JUNE 7"TH, 1945 FLIGHT 605- floor to be kept very low—about 24m.—relative to the ground, and also permits of the floor being level, both these qualities being of great value for loading and unloading the machine, more particularly in its freighter and medical versions. One of the accompanying illustrations showing a car being loaded is amply illustrative of this. Additionally, to facilitate access to the fuselage interior the hinged tail fairing when opened discloses an aperture about 5ft. square, and as there is an unobstructed height of 8ft. 4in. between the tail boom and the ground a delivery van, for example, can back up squarely against the loading platform of the fuselage and take on or discharge cargo directly. Headroom in the fuselage varies between a minimum of 5ft. 3m. and a maximum of 6ft. 8in. A point which is of singular importance in the new aircraft is that the fuel tanks specified are of the Henderson flexible crash-proof type. For some time now there has been a great deal of research into the phenomena of fuel tank Medium-sized cars can be transported efficiently and quickly. Loading isno problem owing to the hinged tail fairing of the cabin and the low level floor. behaviour in aircraft crashes, and some very interesting facts have come to light. We are very pleased indeed to see that Miles Aircraft, Ltd., are losing no time in safe- guarding their clients from the hazard of fire consequent upon a crash. Performance is good, in view of the limitations and capabilities of the aircraft. Empty weight is 3,000 1b. and the maximum payload one ton—maximum speed is 130 m.p.h. and cruising speed 110-115 m.p.h. It is further claimed "that the machine takes off and lands in a distance of between 100 and 260 yards according to load ; a remark- ably small figure. The manufacturers suggest that in view of its take-off and landing characteristics the Aerovan is independent of extensive airfields, and passengers can be taken up and put down at any reasonable point, making it possible for entirely new air routes to be inaugurated. To this we would add that with so versatile a machine capable of fulfilling so many roles, not only new air routes but new aerial fields of commerce could conceivably be inaugurated. There is, however, the rather questionable ease of move- ment on unprepared fields in view of the relatively narrow track of the undercarriage main wheels. Certainly the vertical distance from the median wheel axle position to the centre of gravity is not great, and this should compen- sate in some degree the penalty of the narrow track ; never- theless, without proof to the contrary, one would imagine SPAN - - 50ft. LENGTH - 36ft. HEIGHT - 13ft. 6in. Two Gipsy or Cirrus Major engines with fixed pitch or C.S. airscrews. that handling the aircraft on an unprepared surface, particularly in anything of a wind, might be somewhat of a tricky business calling for a good deal of care on the part of the pilot. Despite this small point of criticism which, after all is not concerned with the normal or general use of the machine, we must agree that the Miles M57 Aerovan is a refreshing venture which would appear to deserve a full and very useful future. Ten passengers can be carried in the Aerovan. Note the seat anchorage. In the six-passenger version comparably more luxurious chairs are pro- provided as there is greater unit space. A.T.C. GLIDING PROGRESS OVER 14,000 glider launches were successfullymade by A.T.C. cadets at eighty-four A.T.C. gliding schools during March. These included 6,726 ground glides for beginners, 4,376 low hops up to about 10ft., and 2,920 high hops up to 1 ooft. Cadets under training for gliding numbered 1,546, of whom 243 were passed as proficient up to A.T.C. gliding standards. About six weeks training is required to reach proficiency. These figures reveal the rapid strides being made by gliding in the Corps.
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