|
The Magister trainer had been
built in many hundreds by 1938,
but Mr Miles felt that he could
produce an even better machine
within similar specification
limits, and proved his theories
with the Trainer M.18, which
flew for the first time in 1939.
Beyond the fact that it was a
tandem two-seat low-wing
monoplane, the M.18 had nothing
in common with the Magister.
The main design considerations
were ease of handling and
serviceability, and these aims
were attained in a high degree,
the machine being most
delightful to fly, with controls
light and positive right down to
the stall.
In the course of extended trials
several variants of the M.18
were tested, with open and
enclosed cockpits, tail-wheel
and tricycle undercarriages, and
with the Gipsy Major and Cirrus
Major engines, the combined
results proving that the machine
was an ideal training type.
After successful official
acceptance trials the M.18 was
ordered for quantity production,
but the order was almost
immediately reversed because the
existing biplane design was in
large-scale manufacture. Then,
in 1942, the machine was again
ordered for production, but
official policy was again
changed and the M.18 was
cancelled once more.
|
Design Company: |
Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd |
|
First Flight: |
4
December 1938 |
|
M.18: |
3
- Phillips & Powis, Woodley |
|
M.18.HL: |
1
- Phillips & Powis, Woodley |
|
Type Specification |
|
Applies to: |
Miles M.18 |
|
Type: |
Two seat basic trainer to
replace Magister |
|
Wing: |
Low wing cantilever monoplane
of spruce structure covered in
plywood. Centre section has no
dihedral and is of constant
section, outer sections have
dihedral and taper towards the
tip. Split flaps fitted as
standard |
|
Fuselage: |
Fuselage of spruce structure
with plywood covering
|
|
Tail Unit: |
Cantilever tailplane with
elevator at top of fuselage
with single fin and rudder
|
|
Landing Gear: |
Fixed main wheels in fairings
beneath wing. Tail wheel
|
|
Power Plant: |
One 150 hp Blackburn Cirrus
Major air cooled inline engine
in nose |
|
Accommodation: |
Tandem open cockpits for crew
above wing |
|
Dimensions |
|
Span: |
31 ft |
|
Length: |
24 ft 10 in |
|
Height: |
9
ft 4 in |
|
Wing Area: |
183 sq ft |
|
Weights |
|
Empty: |
1,300 lb |
|
All-up: |
1,903 lb |
|
Performance |
|
Max Speed: |
135 mph |
|
Rate of Climb: |
780 ft/min |
|
Service Ceiling: |
12,400 ft |
|
Range: |
376 miles |
|
