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Miles Mercury

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M.28 Mercury
The Miles M.28 Mercury 6 atWolverhampton (Pendeford) Airportin May 1951. This aircraft later went to Denmark.
Role Trainer & communications aircraft
Manufacturer Phillips & Powis
Designer Ray Bournon
First flight 11 July 1941
Status one remains operational
Primary user private pilot owners
Number built six
Variants Miles Messenger

TheMiles M.28 Mercurywas a British aircraft designed to meet the need for a training and communications plane during theSecond World War.It was a single-enginedmonoplaneof wooden construction with a twin tail and atailwheelundercarriage with retractable main units.

Development

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Originally, the M.28 had been planned as a replacement for theWhitney StraightandMonarch,but this was shelved when war broke out.

In 1941, the project was revived in response to a requirement for a training and communications aircraft. The design was produced as a private venture byRay Bournonusing Miles' normal wooden construction. The resulting machine introduced several features not found on trainers: retractable undercarriage and trailing edge flaps amongst others. In the communications role, the M.28 had four seats and a range of 500 miles (800 km).

The prototype first flew on 11 July 1941[1]and proved easy to fly, with light controls and a short landing run. Owing to Miles' heavy commitment to war-production, however, only six aircraft were built, of slightly varying specifications, the last being the Mercury 6 which first flew in early 1946.[2]Examples of the type were operated in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Australia.

Variants

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  • M.28 Mark I:First prototype – Two seat trainer, powered by 130 hp (97 kW)de Havilland Gipsy MajorI engine.[3]
  • M.28 Mark II:Three seat trainer (with dual controls) powered by 140 hp (100 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major IIA. One built 1942. Re-engined with 140 hp BlackburnCirrus MajorII and then with a 150 hp (110 kW) Cirrus Major III post-war.[4]
  • M.28 Mark III:Three seat trainer with triple controls for two students and one instructor, powered by 150 hp Cirrus Major 3 and with revised wing section. One built (PW937).[5][6]
  • M.28 Mark IV:Four seat communications aircraft powered by 145 hp (108 kW) Gipsy Major IIA. One built 1944.[4]
  • M.28 Mark V:Post-war four-seater powered by Cirrus Major III. Square rear windows. One built 1947.[7]
  • M.28 Mark VI:Post war four-seater powered by Cirrus Major III. Round rear windows. One built 1946.[7]

Specifications (M.28)

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Data fromMiles Aircraft since 1925[8]

General characteristics

  • Crew:one
  • Capacity:2 or 3 passengers
  • Length:24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Wingspan:30 ft 8 in (9.35 m)
  • Height:8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
  • Wing area:162 sq ft (15.1 m2)
  • Aspect ratio:5.8
  • Airfoil:root:NACA 23018;tip:NACA 2412
  • Empty weight:1,658 lb (752 kg)
  • Gross weight:2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  • Fuel capacity:24 imp gal (29 US gal; 110 L) fuel
  • Powerplant:1 ×Blackburn Cirrus Major III4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine, 150 hp (110 kW)
  • Propellers:2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed:159 mph (256 km/h, 138 kn)
  • Cruise speed:152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn)
  • Stall speed:46 mph (74 km/h, 40 kn) flaps down
  • Range:408 mi (657 km, 355 nmi)
  • Endurance:2 hours 45 minutes
  • Rate of climb:840 ft/min (4.3 m/s)
  • Time to altitude:10,000 ft (3,048 m) in 14 minutes
  • Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m):1,344 ft (410 m)
  • Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m):942 ft (287 m)

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toMiles Mercury.

Notes

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  1. ^Mondey 2002, p. 172.
  2. ^Jackson, 1974, p.271
  3. ^JerramAeroplane MonthlySeptember 1986, p. 474.
  4. ^abJerramAeroplane MonthlySeptember 1986, pp. 475–476.
  5. ^JerramAeroplane MonthlySeptember 1986, p. 475.
  6. ^Mason 2010, p. 251.
  7. ^abJerramAeroplane MonthlySeptember 1986, p. 476.
  8. ^Brown 1970, pp. 195, 200

Bibliography

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  • Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert.Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1.London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000.ISBN0-85177-787-2.
  • Brown, Don Lambert.Miles Aircraft Since 1925.London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970.ISBN0-370-00127-3.
  • Jackson, A.J.British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume 3.1974. Putnam & Company Ltd.ISBN0-370-10014-X.
  • Jerram, Mike. "For Business And Pleasure—No. 3",Aeroplane Monthly,Vol. 14, No. 9, September 1986. pp. 474–477.ISSN0143-7240.
  • Mason, Tim.The Secret Years: Flight Testing at Boscombe Down, 1939-1945.Crowborough, UK: Hikoki Publications, 2010.ISBN978-1-9021-0914-5.
  • Mondey, David.The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II.London: Chancellor Press, 2002.ISBN1-85152-668-4.
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