The origins of the Mentor can be traced back to the Air Ministry's release of Specification 38/37, which called for a three-seat cabin monoplane for use in multiple capacities, including for instrument training, radio training, and communications work during both day and night time.[2] Amongst the requirements requested in the specification included the use of a de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, the provision of dual flying controls, instrumentation suitable for blind-flying, doors on either side of the cockpit. Upon receipt of the specification, Miles opted to produce its own response, which it largely derived from its existing Miles M.7 Nighthawk.[2]
This aircraft, which was given the name Mentor, comprised wooden construction wherever practical.[2] It was fitted with a single-piece windscreen made of moulded Perspex, which the company had only recently pioneered on the Miles Whitney Straight. According to aviation author Don Brown, the Mentor's design process was relatively straightforward, involving only 630 man weeks within Miles' drawing office.[2]
To validate the design, a single prototype was produced.[2] On 5 January 1938, this prototype (SerialL4392) conducted the type's maiden flight, piloted by H Skinner. In comparison to the preceding Nighthawk, the Mentor prototype was determined to possess inferior performance attributes, such as being somewhat slow to respond to the controls.[3] Despite this somewhat unfavourable comparison, the overall conclusion drawn from its official trials was that the aircraft was satisfactory for its purpose; thus Miles received an order for 45 aircraft on behalf of the Royal Air Force (RAF).[1][4]
Operational history
Between April 1938 and February 1939, the entire production run of the Mentor were delivered to the RAF. The type were principally flown by No. 24 Squadron, while numerous RAF station flights also few several Mentors as well.[4]
Only a single Mentor is believed to have survived the Second World War; this aircraft (Serial L4420) was declared to be surplus to requirements and thus sold into the civil sector as G-AHKM during May 1946. On 1 April 1950, this final Mentor was destroyed by a crash at Clayhidon, Devon, thus ending all operations of the type.[1]
Brown, Don L. (1970). Miles Aircraft since 1925. London: Putnam & Company. ISBN0-370-00127-3.
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.
Halley, J.J. Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-N9999. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. 1993. ISBN0-85130-208-4.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN0-370-10014-X.
Swanborough, Gordon. British Aircraft at War, 1939–1945. East Sussex, UK: HPC Publishing, 1997. ISBN0-9531421-0-8.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miles Mentor.
January 25, 2023
miles, mentor, miles, mentor, 1930s, british, single, engined, three, seat, monoplane, training, communications, aircraft, built, miles, aircraft, limited, mentorrole, training, communicationsmanufacturer, miles, aircraft, limitedfirst, flight, january, 1938in. The Miles M 16 Mentor was a 1930s British single engined three seat monoplane training and communications aircraft built by Miles Aircraft Limited M 16 MentorRole Training and CommunicationsManufacturer Miles Aircraft LimitedFirst flight 5 January 1938Introduction 1938Retired 1950Status Withdrawn from servicePrimary user Royal Air ForceNumber built 45 1 Developed from Miles M 7 Nighthawk Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications Mentor 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and development EditThe origins of the Mentor can be traced back to the Air Ministry s release of Specification 38 37 which called for a three seat cabin monoplane for use in multiple capacities including for instrument training radio training and communications work during both day and night time 2 Amongst the requirements requested in the specification included the use of a de Havilland Gipsy Six engine the provision of dual flying controls instrumentation suitable for blind flying doors on either side of the cockpit Upon receipt of the specification Miles opted to produce its own response which it largely derived from its existing Miles M 7 Nighthawk 2 This aircraft which was given the name Mentor comprised wooden construction wherever practical 2 It was fitted with a single piece windscreen made of moulded Perspex which the company had only recently pioneered on the Miles Whitney Straight According to aviation author Don Brown the Mentor s design process was relatively straightforward involving only 630 man weeks within Miles drawing office 2 To validate the design a single prototype was produced 2 On 5 January 1938 this prototype Serial L4392 conducted the type s maiden flight piloted by H Skinner In comparison to the preceding Nighthawk the Mentor prototype was determined to possess inferior performance attributes such as being somewhat slow to respond to the controls 3 Despite this somewhat unfavourable comparison the overall conclusion drawn from its official trials was that the aircraft was satisfactory for its purpose thus Miles received an order for 45 aircraft on behalf of the Royal Air Force RAF 1 4 Operational history EditBetween April 1938 and February 1939 the entire production run of the Mentor were delivered to the RAF The type were principally flown by No 24 Squadron while numerous RAF station flights also few several Mentors as well 4 Only a single Mentor is believed to have survived the Second World War this aircraft Serial L4420 was declared to be surplus to requirements and thus sold into the civil sector as G AHKM during May 1946 On 1 April 1950 this final Mentor was destroyed by a crash at Clayhidon Devon thus ending all operations of the type 1 Operators Edit United KingdomRoyal Air Force No 24 Squadron RAFSpecifications Mentor EditData from Miles Aircraft since 1925 5 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 26 ft 1 75 in 7 9693 m Wingspan 34 ft 9 5 in 10 605 m Height 9 ft 8 in 2 95 m Wing area 181 sq ft 16 8 m2 Empty weight 1 978 lb 897 kg Gross weight 2 710 lb 1 229 kg Powerplant 1 de Havilland Gipsy Six six cylinder inverted air cooled in line piston engine 200 hp 150 kW Performance Maximum speed 156 mph 251 km h 136 kn Service ceiling 13 800 ft 4 200 m Rate of climb 780 ft min 4 0 m s Wing loading 15 lb sq ft 73 kg m2 See also EditRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force List of aircraft of World War IIReferences EditCitations Edit a b c Brown 1970 p 150 a b c d e Brown 1970 p 149 Brown 1970 pp 149 150 a b Halley 1993 p 43 Brown 1970 p 151 Bibliography Edit Brown Don L 1970 Miles Aircraft since 1925 London Putnam amp Company ISBN 0 370 00127 3 Amos Peter and Brown Don Lambert Miles Aircraft Since 1925 Volume 1 London Putnam Aeronautical 2000 ISBN 0 85177 787 2 Brown Don Lambert Miles Aircraft Since 1925 London Putnam amp Company Ltd 1970 ISBN 0 370 00127 3 Halley J J Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000 N9999 Air Britain Historians Ltd 1993 ISBN 0 85130 208 4 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing Jackson A J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 London Putnam 1974 ISBN 0 370 10014 X Swanborough Gordon British Aircraft at War 1939 1945 East Sussex UK HPC Publishing 1997 ISBN 0 9531421 0 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miles Mentor Miles M 16 Mentor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Miles Mentor amp oldid 1125089211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
