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In 1935, Mr Miles produced the
Merlin, and aircraft capable of
carrying five people and their
luggage in comfort.
The Merlin, which was designed
to the order of Birkett Airways
Limited and Tata Air Lines,
fitted with a 200 hp Gipsy Six
engine and required to carry
five persons, including the
pilot, at a cruising speed of
145 mph.
In spite of the fact that no
variable pitch airscrew could be
obtained by the time the Merlin
was completed, the take-off run
was only a little longer than
that of the Falcon and the
specified performance was easily
attained, with a maximum speed
of 155 mph., which gave an
advantage of 20-25 mph over the
other types then available.
With a cruising range of some
700 miles the Merlin gave
excellent service, the prototype
undertaking many interesting and
exciting charter journeys,
including a flight to the
Abyssinian capital at the time
of the Italian invasion. Other
Merlins were used on passenger
and mail routes in India and
Victoria, Australia.
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Design Company: |
Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd |
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First Flight: |
11 May 1935 |
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M.4 Merlin: |
4 - Phillips & Powis, Woodley |
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Type Specification |
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Applies to: |
Miles M.4 Merlin |
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Type: |
Five seat cabin monoplane to
requirements of Birkett Air
Services |
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Wing: |
Low wing cantilever monoplane
of spruce structure covered
in plywood |
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Fuselage: |
Fuselage of spruce structure
with plywood covering
|
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Tail Unit: |
Cantilever tailplane with
elevator at top of fuselage
with single fin and rudder
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Landing Gear: |
Two main wheels, each in
aerodynamic fairing beneath
wing. Tail wheel |
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Power Plant: |
One 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy
Six engine in the nose
|
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Accommodation: |
Enclosed cabin for five
passengers in two rows |
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Dimensions |
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Span: |
37 ft |
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Length: |
25 ft 10 in |
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Height: |
7 ft 5 in |
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Wing Area: |
196 sq ft |
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Weights |
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Empty: |
1,700 lb |
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All-up: |
3,050 lb |
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Performance |
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Max Speed: |
155 mph |
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Rate of Climb: |
900 ft/min |
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