Okay, time for a blatant plug for my website...........

http://members.aol.com/warwicaero/mi...aft/index.html

It's out of date somewhat, but I have spent the last 12 months or so coding for a new version which should be finished in the next few months. It's taking some time because I am a squashed hedgehog on the information superhighway, and need to keep reading my HTML instruction book :D At least I have learnt to database for the individual identities, so no more cribbing from reams of A4.

Hopefully, the new site will have loads more technical data from my manual collection.

Cheers

HP - some pics from today then, pity the sun hadn't made an appearance by the time I had to depart... my nose will stop dripping soon, I hope.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/miles8.jpg
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/miles9.jpg
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/milesa.jpg

...and the article I mentioned is here:

G-AKIN article

Couple of Old Warden reviews too (one more due up soon, keep an eye on the site each Friday night):

18th May 2002 and
24th August 2002

Messie
 

Hi DB,

Blimey - you were right on the case - Turdy - Nottingham - home - Net.

THe photos beat me home and I only had a quick pint.

Pity you had to zip off - I flew KBO twice today.

What about the crosswind?

OK - I know it was blowing up to 17kts at 90 degrees to the runway but - who needs a runway? I took off across the tarmac and was virtually airborne before I crossed onto the grass runway. It must have been no more than 50yds.

Into wind it is possible to use the full 30 flap - it just flopped onto the grass with hardly any ground roll.

Despite that, we were well inside the envelope - approach at 45mph/ stalls at 27 (yes really....)

Great day - probably repeat it all tomorrow.

I checked out your site - very impressive.

I am sure that KKKkken Ellis would be pleased to have a regular supply of your piccies.

HP

Hi Aerohack - I spent ages on the phone to Ron Souch - fascinating bloke. Thank you for putting us in touch.

WW Monarch.

Dr. Ian Dalziel. Now - theres an interesting bloke too....

What does anybody make of somebody who has an old wooden plane, spends lots of dough on hangarage yet allows his plane to moulder away in a damp hangar, allows mice to set up home (well...probably a high rise block by now....) and presumably cause grave internal damage; allows the thing to have its Registration cancelled by the CAA.

The Monarch isn't the sexiest of Miles machines ( I have the good fortune to claim that one....!) and the cost of restoration would exceed the end value by a huge margin.

However, it is a rare and thus important airframe that must be saved.

Saved it will be, even if it needs to wait until DrD turns his toes up and it is sold by his estate.

Trouble is - the longer it is left, the less of the original machine that will be incorporated in the rebuild.

Rumour has it also that it suffered a heavy landing on its last flight and may well have spar damage too?

Can anybody verify that?

Somebody out there has the inside track on Dr.D.

I have written to him at an address I was given -no reply.
I have sent 'please forward' letters to him to WW from where - presumably - his hangarage invoices originate - no reply.

I was given a phone number - left a message - nobody called me back.

OK - he may well be tired of anoraks pestering him but - well - - I have done a fair bit for the marque over the past couple of years. I even got Dr.D's mugshot published in FP - Kings Cup victor in 1979 flying Falcon G-AEEG.

You'd have though - wouldn't you? - that anybody with even the remotest interest in Miles machines would have enjoyed the recent publicity, gorgeous piccies and - well - just phoned me.....

Come on you guys at WW - what is the score with this bloke?

There has to be a reason why a learned man of letters is capable of behaving in such a strange way.

I would like to meet him. I would like to record his anecdotes on the Kings Cup win for posterity. It will be published. The aircraft history file demands it also.

No prizes for guessing that my letters to him contained a request for a picture of him with the aircraft and the Kings Cup. No prizes either for concluding that he simply ignored it. It took my good friends from Shipping and Airlines (Messenger G-AKVZ) at Biggin to stump one up. Thanks guys!

We are but the temporary custodians of our Nations aviation heritage. I take my responsibilities very seriously indeed.

Who knows how my fortunes will change - I may get a few quid together and expand my collection (of 2 only now..!).

If I do - then the Nation will benefit in future years. I hope they will stay together.

If I end up busted and they have to go, you be damn sure that they won't be sold to the first person who waves a cheque under my nose.

They will be kept in the air. The Public will enjoy them. When I finally join the Choir Invisible, adequate provision will have been made for my planes as well as my family.

Dr. D - If you are out there - please call me. I am a nice guy (apparently). You might get your @rse into my planes. However, it takes this communication thing to make it happen.

So, Aerohack - you did ask!

Wheres that picture??!!

HP

I think I have spoken to Dr. D in the fairly recent past - I'll see if I have a phone number or email.

Of note perhaps, when we were on our trip back from Paris on 5 May 1963 in the Proctor we popped in to Persan-Beaumont. I noted F-BCDU, Magister c/n 850, the plate read Philips & Powis Reading. Also Miles 'H.T.3' F-BDPG c/n 1783. Whether my abbreviation, or actually shown on the aircraft I can't quite remember.................!

I also own a Biro....

Who designed the peculiar front glazing on, for example, 'EEG? Was it particular to Miles' products? I recall seeing Lord Montgomery one day near Farnborough, and his car had a similar backward top to bottom sloping windscreen.

The distinctive 'Miles' windscreen was, I believe, first used on several American types, names elude me at the moment. Miles widely introduced it starting with the M.3 series. It gave almost 5 mph extra and reduced distortion through the glazing.

The forward-sloped windscreen wasn't unique to Miles, but more common in the USA. Off the top of my head, types I can recall thus equipped included the original C.W. (later GAL) Cygnet, some Ford and Stinson Tri-Motors, and the Vultee V-1, but I'm sure there were many others. Reduced distortion/reflection and speed gains were claimed. Calls to mind the reverse-slope rear windows on the Ford Anglia, Consul Classic and some Reliant three-wheelers. I got to Persan-Beaumont about a year later than you atb1943, and rather less grandly, hitching a lift from the nearest station in a Renault Dauphine whose driver was, shall we say, 'enthusiastic'. I remember the Maggie, seem to recall it being the mount of the aero club commandant. BTW, is your Biro a Miles-made one? I"ll bet Hairyplane has one of those!

Funny windscreen
 

Hi ATB,

Are you sure you weren't looking at the back window of Lord M's Ford Anglebox??!!

The Falcon design was penned by Blossom Miles.

At the risk of getting shot down in flames(!) I reckon she cribbed the screen design from the American Stinson (?).

The theory - I believe - was that the forward-sloped screen gave a smoother airflow over the tail, a double teardrop effectively. This resulted in the design having a small - and thus less draggy - tailplane and tiny vertical surfaces.

I am a little sceptical about the '5mph increase in speed over an aircraft fitted a conventional screen'. I think it was just a fashion statement.

What it does do is a great job of leaving the raindrops on the screen - they don't blow off.

The screen is also narrow - a bit like looking out of a letterbox - and you also get some annoying reflections when you least want them, especially during a display or when formation flying.The 'glazing bars' (sounds more accurate than canopy frame!) are a pain in formation .

Check out which window the pilot (lucky me!) is peering on the latest FlyPast air to airs. The tiny one at the top!

The usual quip when I arrive anywhere in it is - 'love the leaded lights, wheres the stained glass??'

The tiny fin and rudder really requires ballet pumps as opposed to flying boots (and no - I don't wear a tutu...). It can be a box of frogs on the ground.

Mind you - I reckon the sloped- forward screen, raked tail and trousered undercarriage makes the Falcon one of the most gorgeous looking aircraft ever. A treasured posession that only wild horses (or a wild bank manager) could prize away from me.

Am I biased or do others think the same? So many old planes of the same 1936 era (I won't name them) just don't have the elegance and beauty of the Miles designs.

Regrettably though, many DH - types (oops!) are quite common yet the survival rate of Miles machines is appalling.

I implore you guys in the know out there to bang on Dr. Dalziels and Bob Mitchells (Witney Straight and Monarch in store at Cosford) doors and say - 'Come on geezer - there's no way you are going to do anything with them. You have had your enjoyment. Why not pass them on to somebody who will restore them to pristine, fly them and allow the nation , not just mice and spiders. to see them.'

I shudder when I hear of the conditions under which some surviving Miles aircraft - or viable projects - are being stored under.

I also had an annoying exchange with some Tw@t called B@b who wanted 'a million quid' for his Maggie fuz. Sheer profiteering and thus working against the preservation of old planes - a completely non-cost effective nonsense anyway that takes a nutter like me to get involved in.

Must go - my soapbox is creaking, I need to step off it before I break it through over-use.!!

HP

Totally agree re the Miles 'look'. Just far far classier than most sheddy old GA jobs.

As for Dr. D etc. - well with AKBO's history of secret agent/commando use in 633, you're half way to forming your own aircraft abduction unit, complete with getaway vehicle. Got any black shoe polish?

Well, I mentioned the Biro because I just re-discovered the book 'Wings over Woodley', which I hadn't really read thoroughly.
Now I have indeed!

And to my chagrin, although Blackbushe-based, I never made it to Woodley. But then I was much influenced by those in the group in the early days. Would know better today.

.....and therein I read that the Broburn Wanderlust was a Reading product, a glider no less. What's in the name anyone?

And what became of the HDM105?

And what did the IAC do with its Martinet?

KBO looked great at Turweston on Saturday. (esp after a wash) :)

Hope to see it again at the Feb meet.

G-AKBO
 

She did look a lot better after a bath. I also wiped her bottie down after - she does drop a bit of oil (don't they all??!!)

The 'bottom hangar' at Turdy gets really dusty due to the woodshop next door creating loads of sawdust.

Also, to even get to the runway you have to splosh your way through loads of mud at relatively high speed to avoid getting stuck.

I can't bear to fly any aircraft that isn't clean - it detracts from the pleasure in my book. If you ain't got time to clean it - don't fly it.

Despite the wind - KBO gave lots of pleasure to 2 lucky passengers and lots more to the toggies. Doesn't she look great waffling slowly down the approach with those biiiig barn-door flaps and triple fins?

MMMmmm....

The new owner of KBO lives down south near Shoreham.

Can I appeal to you all to come up with some suitable hangarage near there?

Whilst I am happy to keep it flying for them (who wouldn't??) it needs to be there so that they can cuddle it without a big road journey.

HP

Hairyplane,

how about Lee-on-Solent - its got hard runways, fuel, hangars etc and is only about 1 hour from Shoreham on good roads.

There are lots of hangars there and some may have sufficient space for KBO. We have a couple in ours (& a pby in kit form)
and given the aircraft concerned it would I am sure it would be a welcome addition.

Also Goodwood which is much closer but is grass only and not sure about hangar space.

Lee on Solent
 

Hi Paul C,

Thank you so much for your reply.

Please send me an Email with the contact details and I'll pass them on.

I have promised Bob Ruprecht of the Air Support Unit there a visit, so - to turn up in KBO would be great!

Any more suggestions out there please?

Goodwoood is big bucks I am told - KBO is a big old bird too.

I like Nick Blooms description of the Messengers cockpit in Nov.02 Pilot - 'Like an old gentlemans club!'

HP

Here are a couple of pretty poor pics of the Miles Student G-APLK, taken at prestwick in the late 1970s. I can't compete with DamianB coz I only had a cheap camera in those days!

http://www.pbase.com/minolta/planes

Nice - the one Miles I'd really like to see back in the air. And I don't think I even had a camera then :)

There's a new hangar going up at Shoreham at the far west end behind Transair. Don't know what Tom Moloney's going to do wiv it, but I'll ask him Monday when I see him. You don't build a hangar fer nuffin', do yer!

Question about Fred Dunkerley
 

One can't mention Miles without immediately thinking of Fred Dunkerley. I noticed a previous reference to a Mike Dunkerley with a Widgeon- would he be a relative?

Also a search on G-INFO under that name reveals an Alan George Dunkerley with 'DNL, 'NWO and a CASA Jungman. Also deregistered a Boeing 75 and a Spitfire!

As the address is within gliding distance of Barton its a shame the a/c have never been seen there in the past 30 years

Which leads me onto the question about Fred Dunkerely. I heard dark mutterings of a disagreement between him and the committee of the Lancs Aero Club (presumably in the 1960's) but it was never expanded on. As there are precious few members left from those days its difficult getting to the bottom of this.

Does anyone know the story?

Sir George Cayley

The air is a navigable ocean that laps at everyones door

MMMmmmiles
 

We've passed the 100 posts! Hurrah!

Wub - Fascinating contribution re Miles Student. How come the wing got 'lost'?? Where is the aircraft now? What state is it in (apart from no chuffin' wing..)? When did it last fly? Tell us all about it. Failing that, I'll ask the Oracle and tell you!

Sir George - I have asked the Oracle - Peter Amos of The Miles Collection (who will probably never get himself on one of these new fangled computers!) about Fred Dunkerly. I'll keep you posted (every pun intended..)

atb - Yes please! Let me have the details as soon as you have them - Shoreham would be great.

Just to remind you - The Miles Collection is such a worthwhile organisation to join. £17.50 a year buys you fascinating journals and definately some wonderful carrot cake on the Miles Stalls at the shows!

www.Miles-aircraft.com

:)

HP

Ahhh... I thought the Student is actually at Woodley now??? It pranged at Duxford a few years ago (as I recall Peter Hoare joined the club of celebrated pilots who were faced with a sudden absence of power and parked their various mounts into the big field on the other side of the M11!) and was stored at Cranfield with the JP lot for a while.

Only time I ever saw it was over my school (about the third mention on this forum!) in 1976 - I was 12 and thought "what the hell is that?" Found a picture later. It was going into Dunsfold I think...

How about aiming for 200 posts, give Austers something to really aim for? :D

Treadders

Hairyplane,

Am I missing something about the wing? Anyhoo, here is the lowdown on the Student:

http://www.bigwig.net/museumofberksh...on/student.htm

Here's another much better pic:
http://www.cals.lib.ar.us/miller/images/MIL_M100.jpg

The only other connection I have with Miles is that I used to drink in the same flying club bar as Jim Buckingham, who displays the Gemini G-AKKB, which was the last to be built at Woodley in 1947. It's still going strong:

http://www.museum-explorer.org.uk/mu...php?Photo=2278

Various MMMmmmiles matters
 

Wub -

I thought that I read somewhere that the wing had gone missing? Maybe I dreamed it.....I'll need to consult the Oracle on this one and come back to you - maybe tomorrow. I hadn't realised that it had been comprehensively stuffed...

Sir George C -

Re - Fred Dunkerly. I consulted The Oracle this afternoon but could only post when I got back from the Rubadub. He is the guy who converted a Sparrowhawk into a Sparrowjet in the 50's.

His son Alan has undertaken the task of rebuilding the remains of it - not much apparently - back into the original Sparrowhawk.

Is Ben Cox doing this? Apparently so.

Where can I get hold of Ben Cox? I have a question for him.

Nice to find out how he is getting on with it if so.

Tredders -

Glad you are enjoying this thread! I feel a ride in the Maggie (or Falcon as you wish) happening this season. EMail me to arrange if you want.

At this rate, 200 posts seems feasible. We seem to be unearthing so much stuff.

Such a pity that The Oracle isn't taking part in this - he is a mine of information and undoubtedly - by a long long shot - the worlds expert on Miles Aircraft. Trouble is - as previously stated - he isn't into computers....

My letter in Pilot - Nov02 - regarding the dropping of his mates ashes still conjures up this image of poor old Peter Amos alias 'The Oracle' spitting ash out and absolutely smothered in them.

(I have to say it was a bit of a grin - especially as his incinerated chum was a right wag apparently.)

I think he otherwise enjoyed his ride in V1075. ....!

(Watch this space - the V1075 identity may be on its way out forever. If the CAA are happy for me to change it - can't think why not - it might get done this season.)

HP

Just for gawd's sake don't paint it grey like every other damn aeroplane these days!

Sir George, Mike is a Dunkerly without the second e. His mother was a Duchess of xxxxxxx? who's obituary I have but obviously not handy.

Aerohack, Jenks (to revert way way back to page 2 or 3) lent a helping hand when the Birketts moved from Fleet to Elvetham Hall Lodge, or at least Joan Passini-Birkett and the two girls, because Hollie had remarried. Far as I recall Jenks helped me dig out a tree that was in the way (well, a bush, but a big one!).

Hairyplane, a photo of 'EEG probably from an Ian Allan booklet from the sixties shows it to have had a dark top in front of the cabin, possibly to cut out glare at high altitude??

hairyplane: <Watch this space - the V1075 identity may be on its way out forever. If the CAA are happy for me to change it - can't think why not - it might get done this season.>

The pre-war CFS aerobatic team colour scheme is most attractive, but you'd need the broad chord fin for it to be truly authentic. What I'd really love to see is a post-war civilian Hawk Trainer scheme, preferably in 'Miles cream'. Despite my near-obsessive purist inclinations, I nonetheless defend to the death an owner's right to paint his aeroplane how he pleases, but from our exchanges here I have a feeling we won't be seeing 'KPF in anything other than tastefully appropriate colours.

Maggie/ Falcon
 

Damien B -

The proposed change relates purely to the registration.

V1075 was one of the last machines off the line and - as such - had bare legs and was painted in camouflage.

It is thus not historically accurate in its present, handsome yellow scheme.

However, mounting evidence of a more correct identity - N3733 - is emerging all the time.

In the 50's, the fuselage and lots of other airframe bits were changed following a crash. THe widely held view today - shared by me also - is that the identity of an aircraft should relate to the fuselage.

It retained its G-AKPF (previously V1075) identity purely because that was the reg on the CofA. This followed through to the present day.

Nothing - save for a few bits and pieces maybe - survive of the original V1075 - the wings were changed during its protracted restoration too.

The thing was basically a waterlogged, wingless hulk in the 60's when it was rescued and bought for fifty quid.

I think it is now time to ask the CAA if they mind -under the current Display of Military Marks exemption - if it is changed.

N3733 was a much earlier 1938 machine and correctly wore the yellow scheme.

My personal view is that whilst the Maggie looks pretty dull with bare legs and in camouflage, the pre-war trainer scheme is MMMmmm lovely.

Stand the 2 together at Shuttleworth and they could be mistaken at first glance for 2 completely different machines.

If they were a couple of girlies, you would try to pull the yellow one any day!

So - Damien B. Have no fear. It won't be grey!It will wear its correct identity and thus wear the correct paint scheme too.

Maybe time to look up and apply the myriad of stencils to it as well.

I reckon they must have had an army of 'stencil bods' in those days!

Lastly - wouldn't it be nice to see a Maggie in a civvy scheme?

The fuselage I have mentoned earlier has a wonderful post-war racing history. Photos at the time - I have one on my office wall - are of a very handsome aircraft indeed.

I think that the opportunity exists for just one more Maggie rebuild from bits. The costs would be ridiculous though, especially when there are people bent on profiteering from our aviation heritage - 'Tricky Bob' for one - and rendering such projects even less viable by the day.

atb 1943 - The Falcon still has a matt black strip between screen and prop. I don't think that its removal would cause any problems. However, I have no plans to repaint the aircraft. I think Tim Moores scheme - though without any historical connections whatsoever - looks great.

It was, without looking up the file - red fuz with cream wings when new.

I have details of all the schemes it wore from new, including details of the Swedish air taxi logos.

It is possible that we might see a series of artists impressions of them in the forthcoming Air Enthusiast feature. I am talking to Ken Ellis about this at the moment.

I can tell you now though that some of the Swedish pictures - especially the ones that show the aircraft on skis - are just wonderful so prepare yourselves for a treat!

Unlike the Maggie - the Falcon is a highly original aircraft. Most of what you see today left Woodley in 1936.

HP

Dull in camo? Never! I thnk it makes a fantastic contrast with 'V1075', indeed it makes a fantastic contrast with its own yellow undersides. In sunshine it just begs to be photographed, particularly coming round the corner at Old Warden, topsides to the crowd. I can feel my underwear tightening just thinking about it.

Rather like the sound of the red/cream scheme for the Falcon too...

Hairyplane

Yes Tim and Ben Cox are restoring the Sparrowhawk I was discussing it with him last week. He said it could possibly be ready at the end of this year but much more likely to be next year. I'll be speaking to him tomorrow and will pass on that you want to ask him something.

Miles Student
 

Hmmm.

Where did I see or read it??

I am convinced that someone somewhere had reported that the wing was found to be missing when they came to restore the thing to static.

So - I consulted The Oracle this evening - poor old boy was cream- crackered after chasing halfway around the countryside for MMMmmmiles piccies for his forthcoming 'definitive Miles' tome.

He confirmed that I was dreaming.

So - the Miles Student is bent but all there - more than you can say for me (hang on - I'm not bent but probably mostly 'there...')

I have to say that the student doesn't blow my frock up too far.

However, tell me where there is a complete Hawk for fifty quid and I'll need a pacemaker.

Do you think we'll make 200 posts??

Naaaaah.

I reckon wel'l hit 125 over the next couple of weeks though. Not bad!

HP

Just wait until I find out how to post photos, then there'll be more fun. Got a gorgeous (IMHO) b/w photo of Smith's Gemini in long grass at WW............and a very strange scimitar tailed 4-prop job built or reengineered for a filum.

Incidentally Aerohack (or anybody of course), any idea what the CAP-looking red and white aircraft was aerobatting around Thorney today? The only link was that it wasMMMmmmiles away. An Army Lynx did a couple of circuits over Eastoke carrying rocket-launchers on its skids.

I note too that the day we departed WW in 1962 in 'GTC for Rotterdam, SE-AFN was present, today's 'EEG. The Proctor had quite a lot of wing surface from which to wipe the early-morning dew.

And travelling through Christchurch station yesterday, I wondered where the airfield was situated and what it had been like, because I can't recall a tiny bit of my visit 40 years ago, except to have noted what was there, Comper Swift 'BUU, two Consuls or Oxfords, and a US-registered Comanche, 6183P. Anyone got a photo of Christchurch? It might jog my memory.

cheers!

It is interesting that mention is made of the Airspeed works at Christchurch in this thread. A fellow who was in the know there, assured me that all Miles blueprints were held by the factory and were subsequently destroyed under instructions from the management. Unless some 'escaped' of course!

Speechless Two: Austers that may have been based at Christchurch in the early 1960s included Alphas G-AHAT, 'JAE and 'JYB. The Consuls/Oxfords broken up there were indeed Oxfords, ex-Air Service Training at Hamble — G-AIAT and 'IAX, and according to my 'Big Book of Oxfords' which I happened to be reading last night, AST's G-ALTP also ended its days there after an engine fire in January 1962.

atb1943: Long way from Thorney Island these days, so can't help with the CAP-like.

Anyone know if anything - parts, drawings etc exist for the Miles Satyr. Several years ago I heard of a chap going to construct a replica - don't know if it was to be from plans or just to outline or even if it was ever started. ?????????

Dull in camo?

Umm, wasn't that the point ? I have never quite understood why someone would go into scrupulous detail over a wartime paintjob and then polish it to a mirror-like finish. Civil schemes are so much prettier anyway.

Shields up !

Many thanks for all the gen and website, Speechless Two, appreciate it. Will definitely check out Hampshire airfields when back home, here am living on borrowed (air) time. I do know that the Redwing and Desford were also noted, but I am about 700 kms from my records.

Was wandering about Hayling today up and down the old railway line with a friend whose father once owned an Auster, when G-TENT flew overhead, probably out of Goodwood. Nice coincidence, belongs on the Auster thread perhaps....

Aerohack, as far as I?

cheers

atb1943:<as far as I?>

No, South Lincolnshire, but still a regular visitor to Portsmouth and its environs, which will always be 'home'. There used to be a flying field on Hayling Island pre-war.

Camouflage
 

Hi Paper Tiger,

It was just a comparison between a Maggie in camo and bare legs versus one (mine!) in an earlier scheme - RAF trainer yellow, polished cowling and spatted U/C.

I defy anybody to stand in front of them both and say that the drab machine is prettier. Historically more accurate maybe but prettier? I don't think so...

You will understand from my previous posts that I am keen to see a Maggie in a civvy scheme. MMMmmm!

Polished camouflage or military schemes applied to aircraft with zero military history make me groan.

THere are a few civvy Miles machines in camouflage around the world. One particular Messenger 'down under' is painted in the most appalling 'camouflage' scheme that is so wrong it is laughable - even if it did once wear military markings (which it didn't...)

Ugh...

HP

Aerohack,

That aerobatic machine was most probably Robin 2160 G-VECG ex-Goodwood.

Found an extraordinary book today entitled 'Blossom', A Biography of Mrs. F. G. Miles, by Jean M. Fostekew, ISBN 0 9515598 6 9. I can already see that it will provide hours of absorbing entertainment.

Hairyplane,

Very sorry, but that hangarage won't be available. I watched them cutting the hard standing on Monday, and the steel is going up next week. But I guess it will house the Yak and occasionally the Strikemaster.

Was fortunate enough to fly up to Duxford in the Yak (Dosaaf 55) on Monday. What a gorgeous day for it! Arrived just as P-40 was cavorting about.

Picked up Flypast...now I know all...!

Do you have the book on Blossom? Fascinating.

Blossom
 

Hi atb1943,

Thanks for trying.

I have seen the book on Blossom Miles - haven't got round to buying it yet simply because I have a shedload of 'also very interesting' books that I haven't read yet and - at the rate I read - there will be a good few Christmas's and Birthday's between, God willing.

I have a special interest in Blossom because a)she was drop-dead gorgeous and b) she penned the Falcon design. So, if they actually do invent a Tardis I'm going to nip back 20 years, kinda get used to being 30 again and then nip back to 1936 to see if I can pull her while George is whiling away the midnight hours at the factory.

I think a bit of pillow talk might just get her to cough up the truth about the screen on the Falcon!

I know I have mentioned this earlier but - 3 'must reads' for any 50's enthusiast are - Tails of the 50's, More Tails of the 50's and Tail Ends of the 50's - all by my good friend Peter Campbell.

The books are really a collection of anecdotes and some nice pictures.

Good news!

I have just heard that I have been awarded the Desmond Penrose trophy by the VAC for my Miles Aircraft contribution.

A busy year this season - off to Barkaby Stockholm again in June, to return my nice trophy won last year and guzzle some more Falcon beer (yes, they have a Falcon Brewery in Sweden!)

Also - I have been asked by the RIAT Fairford organisers to get my Falcon & Maggie in the exhibition for their '100 years of flight' exhibition and air display.

All expenses, accomodation and some dosh too so - can't be bad!

I reckon I'll do Schaffen Diest in Belgium too.

Coventry also want the Maggie at their display.

The Great Vintage Flying Weekend at Kemble 9-11th May is a must for all you Miles nutters.

If the weather and winds are favourable I would expect to do plenty of joyrides.

Oh yes! Guess what! Somebody on the Auster thread has described Miles Aircraft as 'plywood barges.'

I think you ought to nip across and file a complaint!

All the best

HP