Miles M.65 Gemini 1A

[mauld]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Mv4R15GGA

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

If that's recent then I'm glad to see it still going. I first saw it at Sywell in 1962.

[mauld]

Most of the footage is from 2013 and some from 2011.

[Wander00]

HD - me in 61 - Flying scholarship with Les Hilditch instructing - well shouting most of the time ISTR, especially at my "steep" turns!


IMHO one of the prettiest of aeroplanes

[Rosevidney1]

Now if they could remove the engines from the wings and put one of them in the nose, than add another fin and rudder on the centreline station - why they would end up with the perfect flying machine that could land and take off where virtually all other fixed wing jobbies cannot!

[l.garey]

Lovely pictures Mauld.
HD: I saw KKH at Tollerton in 1959, adorned with Day-Glo, then not again for 50 years, at Bicester in 2010: it looks better in its new clothes.

Laurence

[India Four Two]

Rosevidney1,

What a good idea! ;) Of course, they couldn't call it a Single Gemini, that would be a non sequitur.

If it is a STOL machine, fixed gear would be preferable and since it would make a good liaison aircraft and sticking to Miles' naming convention, they could name it the Miles Messenger. A retractable version would need a faster name, so how about Mercury? :cool:

[Rosevidney1]

I like your joined up thinking, India Four Two!

[Wander00]

The name "Spiller" keeps coming to mind - did he own the Gemini when it was at Sywell in the 60s?

[Planemike]

Spiller + Sywell usually equals Messenger G-AKIN

[l.garey]

A J Spiller was a well-known racing pilot of the 1950s onward. He flew, among others, Messenger G-AKIN, but I don't recall seeing him associated with G-AKKH.

Laurence

[Wander00]

Age marches on - must be confusing the Gemini with the Messenger. Thanks. Now where are my slippers?

[l.garey]

Alongside mine!

Laurence

[Wander00]

Just looked on the Sywell web site and there is a lot of info there about the Messenger, the Spillers and the Messenger Trust