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Following the success of the
civil Miles Hawk Trainer, the
Air Ministry drew up
Specification T.40/36 for a
development of the Hawk as an
elementary trainer for the RAF.
Design changes included the
provision of larger cockpits and
blind-flying equipment,
production of the Miles M.14
Magister starting in early 1937
to the revised Specification
T.37/37. Initial deliveries to
the RAF were made in May 1937,
these being the first low-wing
monoplane trainers used in the
history of the Royal Air Force.
Also, it was also a radical
departure from the declared
policy of the Air Ministry that
all future Service aircraft were
to be of metal construction.
The Magister was, in addition,
the first R.A.F. aeroplane in
which magnesium alloy castings
were used for stressed parts,
and the first low-wing
cantilever monoplane with full
Air Ministry approval for
acrobatic flying, including
protracted spins. The Magister's
spinning problem was soon
rectified and modified aircraft
and subsequent production
aircraft had the designation
M.14A.
At the time of the Magister's
introduction, the first
deliveries of Hurricanes and
Spitfires were being made, and
the new trainer, with its
low-wing monoplane
characteristics and split
trailing-edge flaps, reproduced
the handlings qualities of these
types in a safe manner.
Built from 1937 to 1941, the
total construction by Miles
amounted to 1,293, and an
additional 100 were built under
licence in Turkey following the
evaluation of four received from
Miles. RAF contracts covered
1,229 aircraft, and other
countries acquiring Magisters
for military use included Eire
(15), Egypt (42) and New Zealand
(2). In addition, a number were
supplied to civil customers, and
after the end of World War 2
many ex RAF Magisters came on to
the civil market under the
designation Hawk Trainer III. At
the peak of
RAF use Magisters equipped 16
Elementary Flying Training
Schools and the Central Flying
School, and were in use with the
RAF commands, the last being
retired in 1948; in addition,
they saw service with the
British army and the Fleet Air
Arm.
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Design Company: |
Phillips & Powis
Aircraft Ltd |
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First Flight: |
Early 1937 |
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M.14 Magister: |
1293 - Phillips
& Powis, Woodley
100 - Turkey |
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Type
Specification |
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Applies to: |
Miles M.14A
Magister I |
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Type: |
Elementary
trainer for RAF to
specification T.40/36
developed from Hawk Trainer
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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
|
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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 |
|
Landing Gear: |
Fixed main
wheels beneath wing. Tail
wheel |
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Power Plant: |
One 130 hp de
Havilland Gipsy Major in nose |
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Accommodation: |
Seats for two in
tandem open cockpits above the
wing |
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Dimensions |
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Span: |
33 ft 10 in |
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Length: |
24 ft 7 in |
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Height: |
6 ft 8 in |
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Wing Area: |
176 sq ft |
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Weights |
|
Empty: |
1,286 lb |
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All-up: |
1,900 lb |
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Performance |
|
Max Speed: |
140 mph at sea
level |
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Initial Rate of
Climb: |
750 ft/min |
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Service Ceiling: |
16,500 ft |
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Range: |
367 miles |
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