MMMmmmiles Aircraft
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Rotters...
Hi Scion et al,
Isn't it such a shame that we know of a number of salvageable wooden airframes that survived the 60's 'glue scare' cull only to fall into the hands of selfish people.
The word 'selfish' is carefully chosen. OK, the White Waltham Miles Monarch is stored in reasonable conditions and could presumably be salvaged at some stage in the future. However, the Bob Mitchell collection of rotters (Monarch, Witney Straight and now - it transpires, a rare Swedish machine - is so saddening, there ought to be law against it!
The funny thing is, I met him at Turweston a few years back when operating Messenger G-AKBO from there. He intoduced himself, waxed lyrical about the marque, stated his intenton of getting them flying again and gave me his EMail address etc.
I then gave up trying to contact him to get a peek inside the Cosford shed where he stores them.
I learn from others who have seen the aircraft - or what remains of them - that the conditions in which they are stored is (my words) 'heart breaking'.
Fortunately, there are those amongst us (in addition to me!) whose hearts rule their heads, their partners heads and their wallets.
Fourteen or so airworthy Miles Aircraft worldwide - hopefully to increase by at least the Richard Earl Miles Hawk (Homer drool!) - and at least the story isn't so bad.
It could be more, but for the selfish few. Ho hum.
How is the Scion coming along Scion? The photos you sent m were very impressive. If you ever, ever had a brain (or wallet!) failure and felt that I ought to own it give me a price and a few weeks to hock everything.
I can just imagine your wonderful machine in the Old Warden circuit!
Come and vist. Come and fly the Magister (You had two of them in the war!)
Respect (!) and best wishes from 'Up Over'.
HP
Isn't it such a shame that we know of a number of salvageable wooden airframes that survived the 60's 'glue scare' cull only to fall into the hands of selfish people.
The word 'selfish' is carefully chosen. OK, the White Waltham Miles Monarch is stored in reasonable conditions and could presumably be salvaged at some stage in the future. However, the Bob Mitchell collection of rotters (Monarch, Witney Straight and now - it transpires, a rare Swedish machine - is so saddening, there ought to be law against it!
The funny thing is, I met him at Turweston a few years back when operating Messenger G-AKBO from there. He intoduced himself, waxed lyrical about the marque, stated his intenton of getting them flying again and gave me his EMail address etc.
I then gave up trying to contact him to get a peek inside the Cosford shed where he stores them.
I learn from others who have seen the aircraft - or what remains of them - that the conditions in which they are stored is (my words) 'heart breaking'.
Fortunately, there are those amongst us (in addition to me!) whose hearts rule their heads, their partners heads and their wallets.
Fourteen or so airworthy Miles Aircraft worldwide - hopefully to increase by at least the Richard Earl Miles Hawk (Homer drool!) - and at least the story isn't so bad.
It could be more, but for the selfish few. Ho hum.
How is the Scion coming along Scion? The photos you sent m were very impressive. If you ever, ever had a brain (or wallet!) failure and felt that I ought to own it give me a price and a few weeks to hock everything.
I can just imagine your wonderful machine in the Old Warden circuit!
Come and vist. Come and fly the Magister (You had two of them in the war!)
Respect (!) and best wishes from 'Up Over'.
HP
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Hi heres one for the serious Miles enthusiast /historian.Chatting to a colleague of mine he recalled as a fiftten year old boy having been a passenger in a Miles Messenger that crashed shortly after take off from Rochester.He recalls the aircraft crashed into trees they were all unhurt but the aircraft was badly damaged so presumably written offFrom his age it must have been about 40 years ago.Anyone tell me the exact date airframe and any facts??.Are there any computer databases that chronicle accidents that far back??.I remember spending several fascinating hours in the CAA library reading old AAIB reports from way back in the fifties!!.How things have moved on it !!Would be useful to be able to computer search that information.Here,s hoping. 
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Hey how about that for a quick answer thanks V.atco .Now all I need is to get my hands on the AAIB report !!,CAA library I guess?.What a great site and easily the best bit of Pprune nowadays.Thanks.
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'KZX was owned by the legendary Neville Browning, who famously looped it at an airshow at Shoreham in 1962. It was abandoned at Rochester after the accident and broken up there, though some parts survived until the late 1960s. Neville was killed in his Zlin Trener Master G-ASIM at Seething in 1971.
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I've just finished reading"Miles Aircraft" by Rod Simpson and I see that there are references to two Messengers, EC-ACU and G-ALAH as being stored in Spain awaiting "eventual restoration". Did this happen? Could be an answer buried in this thread so apologies if it is.
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Messengers, EC-ACU and G-ALAH as being stored in Spain awaiting "eventual restoration".
Gnome de PPRuNe
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This chap, Adrian Beney seems interested in Miles aircraft - some nice old pics and some links! Apologies if it's been aired before...
www.beney.org.uk
www.beney.org.uk
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MMMmmmiles more
Hi MMMmmiles afficianados! I reckon we will achieve 10,000 hits before too much longer??
Ex-Oggie -
Manuals etc for the Messenger are not scarce. They should join the Miles Aircraft Collection - twenty quid a year for access to everybody even remotely connected with the marque. There is a wealth of knowledge, parts etc.
A full Workshop Manual should be achievable for around £30, possibly a lot less. A great book with lots of illustrations - a must!
Treadigraph - My chum Adrian Beney has indeed posted a wealth of information on this thread, soon after I started it in fact.
Have a browse through on a wet day!
HP
Ex-Oggie -
Manuals etc for the Messenger are not scarce. They should join the Miles Aircraft Collection - twenty quid a year for access to everybody even remotely connected with the marque. There is a wealth of knowledge, parts etc.
A full Workshop Manual should be achievable for around £30, possibly a lot less. A great book with lots of illustrations - a must!
Treadigraph - My chum Adrian Beney has indeed posted a wealth of information on this thread, soon after I started it in fact.
Have a browse through on a wet day!
HP
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I already have but, if it rains (and I get a lunch undistrubed by the boss, I might just do so again...!
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HP
Thanks, I really need to give GEJS a call sometime, I have still got his mobile number somewhere, the Guru of Messengers.
My interest is starting to be re-kindled as the possibility of getting my medical back, after far too long, looms ever closer.
EO
Thanks, I really need to give GEJS a call sometime, I have still got his mobile number somewhere, the Guru of Messengers.
My interest is starting to be re-kindled as the possibility of getting my medical back, after far too long, looms ever closer.
EO
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Airborne again??
I tried to PM you EO but you aren't able to receive them??
I see you are in Warwickshire?
Me 2. My Regent is at Shotteswell.
You can send me a PM if you want?!
VBR
HP
I see you are in Warwickshire?
Me 2. My Regent is at Shotteswell.
You can send me a PM if you want?!
VBR
HP
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I was at Duxford yesterday and pleased to see the Magister restoration appears to be nearly finished. Pity it won't fly but I'd better not go there. It may have been covered elsewhere on the thread but why are the front and rear windscreens so different? The front one is an engineering job and the rear one a simple (?) perspex effort.
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Hi Ozplane,
The front windscreen frame is actually a rollover cage, attached to the main structure. I'm told (still waiting to find out, as a guest of Hairyplane) that the rear cockpit is a lot windier than the front. I think the bigger screen (standard on all Maggies) was to moderate this effect!
Cheers
The front windscreen frame is actually a rollover cage, attached to the main structure. I'm told (still waiting to find out, as a guest of Hairyplane) that the rear cockpit is a lot windier than the front. I think the bigger screen (standard on all Maggies) was to moderate this effect!
Cheers
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Maggie screens
Bang on the money!
When the Hawk (drooooool!) was developed into the Maggie, there were a number of improvements in order to make it a more practical and durable trainer.
The Hawk did have 2 identical cockpits. However, these were too small to squeeze a parachute- equipped pilot in.
Enlarging the cockpits also exacerbated the buffeting and draughts in the rear cockpit - the later Maggies (of which mine is actually 6th from last of 1200+ built) had the larger plain perspex screen.
My guess also is that it was intended to also protect the canvas blind flying hood folded behind the rear cockpit.
I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked ' why is the rear screen wrong?'. It is dead right of course.
In practice, the rear cockpit is a lot draughtier than the front but is a lot roomier. My front seaters often wax lyrical about the snug, cosy, superb, unobstructed fighter-like seating position in the front (Takatakatak!)
CofG dictates that I fly/ display it solo from the front but I do prefer the rear cockpit for the above reason.
An absolute joy of a flying machine - I love it to death. Isn't it such a pity that they are as rare as hens teeth in airworthy conditon?
HP
When the Hawk (drooooool!) was developed into the Maggie, there were a number of improvements in order to make it a more practical and durable trainer.
The Hawk did have 2 identical cockpits. However, these were too small to squeeze a parachute- equipped pilot in.
Enlarging the cockpits also exacerbated the buffeting and draughts in the rear cockpit - the later Maggies (of which mine is actually 6th from last of 1200+ built) had the larger plain perspex screen.
My guess also is that it was intended to also protect the canvas blind flying hood folded behind the rear cockpit.
I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked ' why is the rear screen wrong?'. It is dead right of course.
In practice, the rear cockpit is a lot draughtier than the front but is a lot roomier. My front seaters often wax lyrical about the snug, cosy, superb, unobstructed fighter-like seating position in the front (Takatakatak!)
CofG dictates that I fly/ display it solo from the front but I do prefer the rear cockpit for the above reason.
An absolute joy of a flying machine - I love it to death. Isn't it such a pity that they are as rare as hens teeth in airworthy conditon?
HP
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Swedish Gemini flies.
My dear friend Fredric Lagerquist of the Swedish EAA to whom I owe so much for researching the history of my Falcon during its time in Sweden, 1936-1961, has provided the following information on a Gemini project. It was fast approaching completion during my visit to Barkaby (etc.) in the Falcon in 02.
Here is the update -
Hi!
It is indeed correct that SE-AYM flew again last year. It atended the EAA rally at Barkarby in early June. I took some pictures of it andwill scan them tomorrow and send them to you.
Have a look at this caption - it is taken by Freddy Stenbom:
http://www.hobby.se/EAA/EAA-flygplan/SEAYM.jpg
I have been looking for an emailadress to Björn Esbjörnsson, but I havent found any. I looked in the logbook of SE-AYM at Barkers and noted flights made to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in the early 1950s by Björns father and Rune Glad. Rune is still around and living i Höllviken. In fact I belive that he was the one who collected the Gemini in the UK. BTW, Rune was also the pilot when the Gemini-prototype SE-BUY crashed at AB Jordbruksflygs own strip at Alunda on 11.11.53. He was quite badly injoured but took up flying again about a half a year later or so.
So! Another Miles machine takes to the air! Fascinating too that the guy who restored it is the son of the original owner who bought it new - same family for 51 years, rivalling the Spiller Messenger G-AKIN @ Sywell, in the Spiller family for a similar period.
We are trying to persuade the owner of the Gemini to come to G-VFWE.
Wouldn't that be great!
HP
Here is the update -
Hi!
It is indeed correct that SE-AYM flew again last year. It atended the EAA rally at Barkarby in early June. I took some pictures of it andwill scan them tomorrow and send them to you.
Have a look at this caption - it is taken by Freddy Stenbom:
http://www.hobby.se/EAA/EAA-flygplan/SEAYM.jpg
I have been looking for an emailadress to Björn Esbjörnsson, but I havent found any. I looked in the logbook of SE-AYM at Barkers and noted flights made to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in the early 1950s by Björns father and Rune Glad. Rune is still around and living i Höllviken. In fact I belive that he was the one who collected the Gemini in the UK. BTW, Rune was also the pilot when the Gemini-prototype SE-BUY crashed at AB Jordbruksflygs own strip at Alunda on 11.11.53. He was quite badly injoured but took up flying again about a half a year later or so.
So! Another Miles machine takes to the air! Fascinating too that the guy who restored it is the son of the original owner who bought it new - same family for 51 years, rivalling the Spiller Messenger G-AKIN @ Sywell, in the Spiller family for a similar period.
We are trying to persuade the owner of the Gemini to come to G-VFWE.
Wouldn't that be great!
HP