MMMmmmiles Aircraft
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A Lebanese gentleman has sent into Pilot magazine a pic of what seems to be a Miles Aerovan taken in Baghdad in around 1952 (Pilot August p.38). There's a black cat on the nose and the company name Contracting & Trading Ltd.
Quite interesting - wonder what it's ident was and what happened to it.
(I know...consult the oracle!)
Would love to have had the onerous job of flight planning you back from Fairford to OW, Hairy. Bit different to planning tandem B-52s to their i/f refuelling rendezvous over the Oggin and then seeing them off to their respective bases (but I'm harking back to the mid-nineties now)
Quite interesting - wonder what it's ident was and what happened to it.
(I know...consult the oracle!)
Would love to have had the onerous job of flight planning you back from Fairford to OW, Hairy. Bit different to planning tandem B-52s to their i/f refuelling rendezvous over the Oggin and then seeing them off to their respective bases (but I'm harking back to the mid-nineties now)
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Aerovan
Hi ATB
B52 - awesome sight, on the ground and in the air. Love to look inside one.
Nice trip back to OW despite the wind - my mates in the 2 Miles machines had some fancy footwork to do on take off.
Sitting back with the autopilot on in the warm sunshine - lovely! I almost dozed off.....
Aerovan - take a look at a previous post from me on this page.
All the best
HP
B52 - awesome sight, on the ground and in the air. Love to look inside one.
Nice trip back to OW despite the wind - my mates in the 2 Miles machines had some fancy footwork to do on take off.
Sitting back with the autopilot on in the warm sunshine - lovely! I almost dozed off.....
Aerovan - take a look at a previous post from me on this page.
All the best
HP
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I've been looking through some old Aeromodellers recently. Plans abound for many of the Miles types; I'll give references when I get around to it. In the mean time, does anyone out there have a definitive list of available models or plans of Miles aircraft?
A
A
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Airbedane
Just thought you would be pleased to know that the Hawk Speed Six will be displayed at Old Warden again this year! I cannot of the top of my head tell you which show but I know from talking to Roger that forth coming displays include displaying the aircraft at Woburn, Old Warden and it will be static at Shoreham.
Just thought you would be pleased to know that the Hawk Speed Six will be displayed at Old Warden again this year! I cannot of the top of my head tell you which show but I know from talking to Roger that forth coming displays include displaying the aircraft at Woburn, Old Warden and it will be static at Shoreham.
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MMMmmmiles Models
Hi Airbedane,
As a highly skilled maker of flying model aircraft yourself, you will know all too well the frustration of researching particular aircraft, producing drawings etc., only to discover that somebody else has already done it.
I have the most exquisite museum quality models in 1/24th scale, of both Falcon and Magister. Doug Bone made them for me. He will therefore have some drawings.
I was also delighted to see 2 x 1/5th scale flying models - of both Shuttleworth Magisters - at Old Warden Scale Weekend just.
The builder of V1075 is also well on the way to producing a 1/5th Falcon.
The Maggie model looked wonderful in the air - if a little fast....
There seems to be a significant renaissance of interest in Miles Aircraft - surely in no small part due to their drop dead gorgeous good looks.
A definitive list of all available plans and models of Miles Aircraft would be so useful.
Doug Bone spent a whole day climbing over the aircraft, taking photos and measurements - I was unable to give him very much.
With you on the case I think we wll see lots more Miles models in the air.
I would love to see a trophy for a Miles model at The Indoor Nats. although I am well aware of the limitations of a free flight model with small tail surfaces etc. However, the Messenger, with its significant dihedral and triple fins might work?
Can I persuade you to produce a flying model kit of a Miles Aircraft in the same way as you did the Lacey?
I would offer you a go in the full size but - well youv'e done all that already! I can only offer you beeeeeer and foooood!
HP
As a highly skilled maker of flying model aircraft yourself, you will know all too well the frustration of researching particular aircraft, producing drawings etc., only to discover that somebody else has already done it.
I have the most exquisite museum quality models in 1/24th scale, of both Falcon and Magister. Doug Bone made them for me. He will therefore have some drawings.
I was also delighted to see 2 x 1/5th scale flying models - of both Shuttleworth Magisters - at Old Warden Scale Weekend just.
The builder of V1075 is also well on the way to producing a 1/5th Falcon.
The Maggie model looked wonderful in the air - if a little fast....
There seems to be a significant renaissance of interest in Miles Aircraft - surely in no small part due to their drop dead gorgeous good looks.
A definitive list of all available plans and models of Miles Aircraft would be so useful.
Doug Bone spent a whole day climbing over the aircraft, taking photos and measurements - I was unable to give him very much.
With you on the case I think we wll see lots more Miles models in the air.
I would love to see a trophy for a Miles model at The Indoor Nats. although I am well aware of the limitations of a free flight model with small tail surfaces etc. However, the Messenger, with its significant dihedral and triple fins might work?
Can I persuade you to produce a flying model kit of a Miles Aircraft in the same way as you did the Lacey?
I would offer you a go in the full size but - well youv'e done all that already! I can only offer you beeeeeer and foooood!
HP
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Conc,
Thanks mate, good news!
HP,
Done the beeeeeeeeer and fooooooooooood, thanks, as well as the aiiiiiiiiiiirplaaaaanes, but it's not a bad idea. I'll give it some thought when I've done the Lysander that you keep bumping into whenever you pop in for a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer.
A
Thanks mate, good news!
HP,
Done the beeeeeeeeer and fooooooooooood, thanks, as well as the aiiiiiiiiiiirplaaaaanes, but it's not a bad idea. I'll give it some thought when I've done the Lysander that you keep bumping into whenever you pop in for a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer.
A
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MMMmmiles models
I asked Barry Clay - master modeller from Warwickshire - Le Grande Fromage of the 'Wings over Warwickshire' Yahoo Group - to respond to Airbedanes plans. Here is what he had to say via Email direct to me -
What a great idea,some that come to mind are as follows,Aeromodeller Magister rubber model plans,I have built one and it flew well,they did a Master and Kestrel trainer (beautiful machine),the book of Miles aircraft has numerous drawings to 1=72 nd scale of a lot of Miles types,Air Stories magazine (1936 vintage) did the Kestrel trainer again (James Hays Stevens who designed the Skybirds series,ask (Airbedane) if he remembers those,bet he does),Flying review did a small section on how to convert a Master into a Martinet target tug,I will no doubt think of others as the day goes on.
Yes I do put the occasional item onto Prune the last thing was on the Kings Cup races and the Miles types that were raced,you know (HairyPlane) with people like yourself the name of Miles will live forever,I met someone once who worked for him and he said that he was a hard taskmaster,Blossom was a genius by any standards,the aircraft do have a certain feminine touch about their design hence their inherent beauty,that could only be achieved with wood and not metal structures,lovely !
If ever you bring the Falcon to Shotteswell I would love to get a Falcon in my log,the Magister would be equally lovely,you are indeed a lucky man to own such beauties and I know that you have their interest at heart,more than can be said for the Cosford/Mitchell inmates which continue to gather more bird debris and sink into the ground,why do they do such things ? my last letter to Bob about their future remains unanswered.
I will try and sort out more Miles memories and think of more plans for AB to add to his list.you take care now,Regards Barry
---------------------------------------------------
Bob Mitchell is the guy who is allowing his Whitney Straight and Monarch to rot into the ground at Cosford - won't talk to anyone - shades of Dr. Ian Dalziel and his W Waltham Monarch - wierd....
Well, I also think of Blossom when I rub the gentle curves of the Falcon - a design she penned. Very tactile...
OK - she only had one eye but hey - my six pack turned into a Party Seven yonks ago and the 'hair' on my handle (I think I ought to rephrase that..... Baaaaaaa!) has nothing whatsoever to do with my follicly challenged bonce.
Brazilian Maggie - Airworthy Maggie for sale in Brazil - very important pre-war machine - check out Barnstormers!
HP
What a great idea,some that come to mind are as follows,Aeromodeller Magister rubber model plans,I have built one and it flew well,they did a Master and Kestrel trainer (beautiful machine),the book of Miles aircraft has numerous drawings to 1=72 nd scale of a lot of Miles types,Air Stories magazine (1936 vintage) did the Kestrel trainer again (James Hays Stevens who designed the Skybirds series,ask (Airbedane) if he remembers those,bet he does),Flying review did a small section on how to convert a Master into a Martinet target tug,I will no doubt think of others as the day goes on.
Yes I do put the occasional item onto Prune the last thing was on the Kings Cup races and the Miles types that were raced,you know (HairyPlane) with people like yourself the name of Miles will live forever,I met someone once who worked for him and he said that he was a hard taskmaster,Blossom was a genius by any standards,the aircraft do have a certain feminine touch about their design hence their inherent beauty,that could only be achieved with wood and not metal structures,lovely !
If ever you bring the Falcon to Shotteswell I would love to get a Falcon in my log,the Magister would be equally lovely,you are indeed a lucky man to own such beauties and I know that you have their interest at heart,more than can be said for the Cosford/Mitchell inmates which continue to gather more bird debris and sink into the ground,why do they do such things ? my last letter to Bob about their future remains unanswered.
I will try and sort out more Miles memories and think of more plans for AB to add to his list.you take care now,Regards Barry
---------------------------------------------------
Bob Mitchell is the guy who is allowing his Whitney Straight and Monarch to rot into the ground at Cosford - won't talk to anyone - shades of Dr. Ian Dalziel and his W Waltham Monarch - wierd....
Well, I also think of Blossom when I rub the gentle curves of the Falcon - a design she penned. Very tactile...
OK - she only had one eye but hey - my six pack turned into a Party Seven yonks ago and the 'hair' on my handle (I think I ought to rephrase that..... Baaaaaaa!) has nothing whatsoever to do with my follicly challenged bonce.
Brazilian Maggie - Airworthy Maggie for sale in Brazil - very important pre-war machine - check out Barnstormers!
HP
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There are details of some RC Miles models at:
http://members.aol.com/warwicaero/mi...aft/index.html
The new website is close to being finished, and will be uploaded sometime soon. This contains details of many more Miles models, including a list of all known Miles models and plans available. The delay in finishing the new website is due to time and money constraints and getting cramp in the two fingers I type with. I am a bit of a squashed hedgehog on the information superhighway.
HP
re: Brazillian Maggie do you mean the Argie one at Mendosa (873 LV-XSG) or is there another?
http://members.aol.com/warwicaero/mi...aft/index.html
The new website is close to being finished, and will be uploaded sometime soon. This contains details of many more Miles models, including a list of all known Miles models and plans available. The delay in finishing the new website is due to time and money constraints and getting cramp in the two fingers I type with. I am a bit of a squashed hedgehog on the information superhighway.
HP
re: Brazillian Maggie do you mean the Argie one at Mendosa (873 LV-XSG) or is there another?
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Thanks EO, it seems I struck gold with that one!
By the way, while I'm on, has anyone out there got any idea why the Auster thread has five stars while the Miles thread has none - both appear equally popular to me, and the latter is achieving it without the advertising help of the five stars?
A
By the way, while I'm on, has anyone out there got any idea why the Auster thread has five stars while the Miles thread has none - both appear equally popular to me, and the latter is achieving it without the advertising help of the five stars?
A
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There Airbedane your wish has been granted !!a five star "General".Easy just scroll down to rate topic!!.Flying out of Ltn the next 5days (earlies ugh) or so ,so hope to see you at OW with HP.trust the recovery is going well!!. 
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Argentinian Maggie
Hi EO,
Its at San Fernando Argentina.
I've asked for some info - nothing yet. A path I have trodden before.
No doubt 'Tricky Bob' - well known barnstormer advertiser (probably because its free) who purports to be an avid collector and keen to restore rare types but is actually just a home-based dealer responsible for putting otherwise viable projects out of reach - has been onto them already...
I had a bit of a set-to with 'Tricky Bob' recently over an important Maggie survivor. He paid tuppence for a fuselage and other bits on the promise that he was going to get it flying, only to offer it to me for a 'million quid'. All ended up in a right slanging match.
Beware of 'Tricky Bob'. ( I think he has a pony tail too...)
HP
Its at San Fernando Argentina.
I've asked for some info - nothing yet. A path I have trodden before.
No doubt 'Tricky Bob' - well known barnstormer advertiser (probably because its free) who purports to be an avid collector and keen to restore rare types but is actually just a home-based dealer responsible for putting otherwise viable projects out of reach - has been onto them already...
I had a bit of a set-to with 'Tricky Bob' recently over an important Maggie survivor. He paid tuppence for a fuselage and other bits on the promise that he was going to get it flying, only to offer it to me for a 'million quid'. All ended up in a right slanging match.
Beware of 'Tricky Bob'. ( I think he has a pony tail too...)
HP
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HP
I well remember our conversation a year or two ago regarding "Tricky Bob". I have since had dealings with him myself, fortunately with no problems so far.
Re: Argie Maggie - I have alternative contact details that I have actually received a response from. Will e-mail the addy to you when I am home at the w/e.
ATB
I well remember our conversation a year or two ago regarding "Tricky Bob". I have since had dealings with him myself, fortunately with no problems so far.
Re: Argie Maggie - I have alternative contact details that I have actually received a response from. Will e-mail the addy to you when I am home at the w/e.
ATB
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Argie Maggie
Thanks EO,
I look forward to seeing it.
I seem to have lost touch withthe Maggie fuselage - very interesting history and excellent basis for restoration - that Tricky Bob put out of reach, and probably the subject of a static restoration instead of where it belongs..
Any news?
I think Tricky Bobs MO is becoming clearer.
He seems to have 'infiltrated' the Miles Aircraft 'inner sanctum' made friends with everybody - took the prize 'for tuppence in good faith that I will luvv it forever', scarpered off, flogged it (most likely diverting its history from flyer potential) and has never been seen again by them.
I bet he is doing this with other movements.
Don't like the bloke (he certainly didn't like me when I told him a few home truths! - you should have read his EMails to me! OOOh! Nasty!
Tricky Bob - where are you?
HP
I look forward to seeing it.
I seem to have lost touch withthe Maggie fuselage - very interesting history and excellent basis for restoration - that Tricky Bob put out of reach, and probably the subject of a static restoration instead of where it belongs..
Any news?
I think Tricky Bobs MO is becoming clearer.
He seems to have 'infiltrated' the Miles Aircraft 'inner sanctum' made friends with everybody - took the prize 'for tuppence in good faith that I will luvv it forever', scarpered off, flogged it (most likely diverting its history from flyer potential) and has never been seen again by them.
I bet he is doing this with other movements.
Don't like the bloke (he certainly didn't like me when I told him a few home truths! - you should have read his EMails to me! OOOh! Nasty!
Tricky Bob - where are you?
HP
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Tricky Bob
Hi AB,
Nothin' much I can do - he is free to do what he can get away with.
I will try to find out what happened to the fuz in question. Trouble is - there are no Maggie wings anywhere so you really would need a sense of humour to fund the rebuild.
What it needs is somebody to look after it for future generations.
Shades of 'when Spitfires were fifty quid' it will be viable one day.
Just got back from Hans Kolby Hansens private island (with 425m strip) in Denmark - Peter Bishop turned up in his Messenger G-AJOE from Germany so, together with Hans' Miles Mercury OY-ALW, we had a mini Miles meet in a really exotic location.
Hans spends 2 months of the year on the island and flies the Mercury every day - nice to see such an old rare plane being used!
Great fun. Great trip.
HP
By the way, yours was the 200th post on my thread - well done!
Nothin' much I can do - he is free to do what he can get away with.
I will try to find out what happened to the fuz in question. Trouble is - there are no Maggie wings anywhere so you really would need a sense of humour to fund the rebuild.
What it needs is somebody to look after it for future generations.
Shades of 'when Spitfires were fifty quid' it will be viable one day.
Just got back from Hans Kolby Hansens private island (with 425m strip) in Denmark - Peter Bishop turned up in his Messenger G-AJOE from Germany so, together with Hans' Miles Mercury OY-ALW, we had a mini Miles meet in a really exotic location.
Hans spends 2 months of the year on the island and flies the Mercury every day - nice to see such an old rare plane being used!
Great fun. Great trip.
HP
By the way, yours was the 200th post on my thread - well done!
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Hi HP,
Welcome back and I hope it was as good as reported, although I hear you've been bitten in places that you didn't know existed.....
200th post - somebody had to do it.
Mercury - there was a rumour sometime back that the Mercury may be coming to Old Warden - any chance you think??
VBW,
A
Welcome back and I hope it was as good as reported, although I hear you've been bitten in places that you didn't know existed.....
200th post - somebody had to do it.
Mercury - there was a rumour sometime back that the Mercury may be coming to Old Warden - any chance you think??
VBW,
A
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Mercury
A remarkable aircraft - retractable, flaps (all vacuum) etc and built in 1946 out of plywood.
I flew in formation with it on a couple of occasions - it looks great in the air with her legs tucked away.
Hans is a very busy man. He also has a very good arrangement whereby the aircraft resides for free in the Stauning Museum over the winter and on his own private strip for the 2 months a year he is on Hindo (an island in the middle of the fjord just north of Stauning).
Lets keep our fingers crossed about it coming to OW. However, it won't be this year.
VBR
HP
I flew in formation with it on a couple of occasions - it looks great in the air with her legs tucked away.
Hans is a very busy man. He also has a very good arrangement whereby the aircraft resides for free in the Stauning Museum over the winter and on his own private strip for the 2 months a year he is on Hindo (an island in the middle of the fjord just north of Stauning).
Lets keep our fingers crossed about it coming to OW. However, it won't be this year.
VBR
HP
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Maggie Models:
Saw a very nice rubber powered free-flight Magister at the SAM 35 Champs at Old Warden last Sunday. Earl Stahl (sp?) design, I believe. Unfortunately, before it was trimmed properly, another model crashed into it damaging the back end. To make it worse, the 'bogie' was being flown without regard to others AND the owner just fronted up, picked it up and departed the scene without so much as a by-your-leave. Whatever happened to common courtesy - at least he could have apologised, or even asked as to the health of the other model.........Oh well, that's the way it is now, I suppose!
VBW
A
Saw a very nice rubber powered free-flight Magister at the SAM 35 Champs at Old Warden last Sunday. Earl Stahl (sp?) design, I believe. Unfortunately, before it was trimmed properly, another model crashed into it damaging the back end. To make it worse, the 'bogie' was being flown without regard to others AND the owner just fronted up, picked it up and departed the scene without so much as a by-your-leave. Whatever happened to common courtesy - at least he could have apologised, or even asked as to the health of the other model.........Oh well, that's the way it is now, I suppose!
VBW
A