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The Miles Aircraft organisation
had a policy to prove their
theories by practical tests,
rather than to arrive at
conclusions on paper and then
let matters take their course.
This meant that they could state
what designs were actually like
rather than what they would
hopefully be like.
In pursuance of this policy the
thirteenth basic Miles design
was intended to serve as a
flying scale research model to
test certain aerodynamic
theories and also to be flown by
Mr. Miles in the 1937 King's Cup
Air Race.
Known as the Hobby, this small
low-wing coupé monoplane had a
span of 21 ft 5 ins, and a wing
area of only 78 sq. ft - less
than half the wing area of the
celebrated Hawk.
Although the machine was present
at Hatfield on the day of the
Race, last-minute difficulties
with its retracting
undercarriage had prevented its
completion in time to qualify as
a competitor, much to the
disappointment of Mr. Miles.
However, after the completion of
the intended experiments, the
machine was purchased by the
Royal Aircraft Establishment,
Farnborough, as the small
dimensions permitted its use in
the large wind-tunnel there.
Considerable information of the
utmost importance was gained
from the Farnborough tests,
tests made doubly useful by the
fact that the results could be
cross-checked by actual flight
trials.
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Design Company: |
Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd |
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First Flight: |
4 September 1937 |
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M.13 Hobby: |
1 - Phillips &
Powis, Woodley |
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Type
Specification |
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Applies to: |
Miles M.13 Hobby |
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Type: |
Single seat
racer for F.G.Miles |
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Wing: |
Low wing
cantilever monoplane of spruce
structure covered in plywood.
Wing tapers from root to tip.
Split flaps fitted as standard
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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: |
Main gear
retracts inwards into wing.
Tail skid |
|
Power Plant: |
One 140 de
Havilland Gipsy Major II in
nose fitted with two blade
variable pitch propeller |
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Accommodation: |
Single seat for
pilot in enclosed cockpit over
wing trailing edge |
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Dimensions |
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Span: |
21 ft 5 in |
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Length: |
22 ft 8 in |
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Height: |
Unknown |
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Wing Area: |
78 sq ft |
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Weights |
|
Empty: |
1,140 lb |
|
All-up: |
1,527 lb |
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Performance |
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Max Speed: |
207 mph |
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