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Miles Messenger

January 01, 1970

The Miles M.38 Messenger is a British four-seat liaison and private owner aircraft built by Miles Aircraft.

Messenger
Miles M.38 Messenger 2A
Role Liaison and private owner aircraft
Manufacturer Miles Aircraft
First flight 12 September 1942
Status examples still flying
Primary users Royal Air Force
Private owner pilots
Produced 1942–1948
Number built 93
Developed from Miles M.28 Mercury

Design and development edit

 
A Messenger in 1998, painted to represent Field Marshal Montgomery's aircraft

The Messenger was designed to meet an informal request from a group of British Army officers for a robust, slow speed, low maintenance air observation post and liaison aircraft.

The aircraft designed was a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel, powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D inline engine.

Fitted with retractable auxiliary wing flaps enabling a wing loading of around 12.5 lb per square foot, the Messenger had triple fins and rudders in order to maintain sufficient controllability down to the exceptionally low stalling speed of 25 mph.[1]

The prototype was converted from a Miles M.28 Mercury and first flew at Woodley on 12 September 1942, some three months after the approach by army officers.[2] When informally test flown by an Aerial Observation Post Squadron it was declared a success, meeting all the army's requirements, however the Ministry of Aircraft Production, having not been consulted, reprimanded George Miles for failing to seek the ministry's permission before rebuilding the aircraft and no orders for the Miles M.38 were placed for the aerial observation post role, AOP units using light, fixed-wing aircraft, notably various marks of Auster.

During the war George Miles continued to experiment with the prototype and suggested the aircraft (known as the M.38A) could be operated in the anti-submarine role using a small 60 foot (18.29 metre) deck aboard small merchant ships, landing using a simple arrester wire system. This was tried at Woodley using a simulated deck (with passengers simulating the weight of depth charges). No official interest was expressed in this scheme.[2]

However a year later a small order against Specification 17/43 was placed on behalf of the British Royal Air Force for the Messenger I to be employed in the VIP transport passenger transport role.[3]

Wartime users of the type included Marshal of the Royal Air Force 1st Baron Tedder and Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery. (The Messenger shown at the beginning of this article – in the guise of this aircraft – attended the 60th D-Day commemorations at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in 2004.)

Production and operations edit

 
Messenger 2A registered in the Netherlands at White Waltham Airfield in 1954
 
Messenger VH-BJM registered in Australia circa 1963

Seventeen of the 21 Messenger 1s produced survived the war, and when retired from RAF duties most were converted for civilian use as the Messenger 4A.[4] They were flown by private pilots and business owners.

In 1944 the prototype was rebuilt as the M.48 Messenger 3 with fully retractable electrically operated split trailing-edge flaps and a 155 h.p. Cirrus Major III engine. This model was not further developed as it did not provide any advantage over the other variants.[5]

Post-war production centred on the Messenger 2A for the civilian market, aircraft being built at Newtownards in Northern Ireland and flown to Woodley for final fitting out. After 71 aircraft were built, production ceased in 1948; a single example was assembled, from existing parts, in 1950.

Several examples of the type were sold to Australia and others were exported to Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland.[4]

The aircraft was a popular touring and racing aircraft during the late 1940s and early 1950s. In 1954 Harold Wood in G-AKBO won the King's Cup Race air race at 133 mph.[4]

Several examples were still flying in the United Kingdom and New Zealand in early 2011 with private owners and flying groups.

Variants edit

Messenger 1
Military production aircraft for the Royal Air Force powered by a Gipsy Major ID, 23 built.
Messenger 2A
Civil production aircraft powered by the Blackburn Cirrus Major 3, 65 built.
Messenger 2B
Three-seat variant of the 2A powered by the Blackburn Cirrus Major 3, one built.
Messenger 2C
Same as the 2A but powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D, one built.
Messenger 3
Dual-control variant of the 2A powered by a Blackburn Cirrus Major 3, one built, later re-designated the M.48.
Messenger 4
Same as the 2A but powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 10, three built.
Messenger 4A
Civil version powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D, one built and 19 converted from Mk I.
Messenger 4B
One 4A modified with a de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine.
Messenger 5
One I modified with a Blackburn Bombardier 702 engine.
M.38A Mariner
The prototype Messenger was fitted with an arrester hook for trials as a carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft.
Handley Page HP.93
One Messenger was used by Handley Page (Reading) for test flights using Dufaylite wings at Woodley.

Operators edit

  United Kingdom

Specification (Messenger 2A) edit

Data from For Business And Pleasure[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 2 in (11.02 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
  • Wing area: 191 sq ft (17.7 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.8:1
  • Empty weight: 1,438 lb (652 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,400 lb (1,089 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Cirrus Major III air-cooled 4-cylinder inline engine, 155 hp (116 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 124 mph (200 km/h, 108 kn)
  • Stall speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn) (approx.)
  • Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi)
  • Endurance: 5 hr 12 minutes
  • Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,900 m)
  • Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
  • Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 750 ft (230 m)
  • Landing run from 50 ft (25 m): 650 ft (200 m)

See also edit

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miles Messenger.

Notes edit

  1. ^ . www.flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b Mondey, David (1982). The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. Chancellor Press. p. 174. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.
  3. ^ Mondey
  4. ^ a b c Jackson
  5. ^ Simpson
  6. ^ Jerram Aeroplane Monthly November 1986, p. 603.

Bibliography edit

  • 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 & Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-370-00127-3.
  • Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
  • Jerram, Mike. "For Business and Pleasure–No. 4: Part 1". Aeroplane Monthly, Vol. 14, No. 10, October 1986. pp. 558–561. ISSN 0143-7240
  • Jerram, Mike. "For Business and Pleasure–No. 4: Part Two". Aeroplane Monthly, Vol. 14, No. 11, November 1986. pp. 600–603. ISSN 0143-7240
  • Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor press, 2002. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.
  • Simpson, Rod, General Aviation Handbook. Midland Publishing. 2005. ISBN 1-85780-222-5

January 01, 1970
miles, messenger, miles, messenger, british, four, seat, liaison, private, owner, aircraft, built, miles, aircraft, messenger, miles, messenger, role, liaison, private, owner, aircraft, manufacturer, miles, aircraft, first, flight, september, 1942, status, exa. The Miles M 38 Messenger is a British four seat liaison and private owner aircraft built by Miles Aircraft Messenger Miles M 38 Messenger 2A Role Liaison and private owner aircraft Manufacturer Miles Aircraft First flight 12 September 1942 Status examples still flying Primary users Royal Air ForcePrivate owner pilots Produced 1942 1948 Number built 93 Developed from Miles M 28 Mercury Contents 1 Design and development 2 Production and operations 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specification Messenger 2A 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 BibliographyDesign and development edit nbsp A Messenger in 1998 painted to represent Field Marshal Montgomery s aircraft The Messenger was designed to meet an informal request from a group of British Army officers for a robust slow speed low maintenance air observation post and liaison aircraft The aircraft designed was a cantilever low wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D inline engine Fitted with retractable auxiliary wing flaps enabling a wing loading of around 12 5 lb per square foot the Messenger had triple fins and rudders in order to maintain sufficient controllability down to the exceptionally low stalling speed of 25 mph 1 The prototype was converted from a Miles M 28 Mercury and first flew at Woodley on 12 September 1942 some three months after the approach by army officers 2 When informally test flown by an Aerial Observation Post Squadron it was declared a success meeting all the army s requirements however the Ministry of Aircraft Production having not been consulted reprimanded George Miles for failing to seek the ministry s permission before rebuilding the aircraft and no orders for the Miles M 38 were placed for the aerial observation post role AOP units using light fixed wing aircraft notably various marks of Auster During the war George Miles continued to experiment with the prototype and suggested the aircraft known as the M 38A could be operated in the anti submarine role using a small 60 foot 18 29 metre deck aboard small merchant ships landing using a simple arrester wire system This was tried at Woodley using a simulated deck with passengers simulating the weight of depth charges No official interest was expressed in this scheme 2 However a year later a small order against Specification 17 43 was placed on behalf of the British Royal Air Force for the Messenger I to be employed in the VIP transport passenger transport role 3 Wartime users of the type included Marshal of the Royal Air Force 1st Baron Tedder and Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery The Messenger shown at the beginning of this article in the guise of this aircraft attended the 60th D Day commemorations at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in 2004 Production and operations edit nbsp Messenger 2A registered in the Netherlands at White Waltham Airfield in 1954 nbsp Messenger VH BJM registered in Australia circa 1963 Seventeen of the 21 Messenger 1s produced survived the war and when retired from RAF duties most were converted for civilian use as the Messenger 4A 4 They were flown by private pilots and business owners In 1944 the prototype was rebuilt as the M 48 Messenger 3 with fully retractable electrically operated split trailing edge flaps and a 155 h p Cirrus Major III engine This model was not further developed as it did not provide any advantage over the other variants 5 Post war production centred on the Messenger 2A for the civilian market aircraft being built at Newtownards in Northern Ireland and flown to Woodley for final fitting out After 71 aircraft were built production ceased in 1948 a single example was assembled from existing parts in 1950 Several examples of the type were sold to Australia and others were exported to Argentina Belgium Chile Egypt Iran New Zealand South Africa and Switzerland 4 The aircraft was a popular touring and racing aircraft during the late 1940s and early 1950s In 1954 Harold Wood in G AKBO won the King s Cup Race air race at 133 mph 4 Several examples were still flying in the United Kingdom and New Zealand in early 2011 with private owners and flying groups Variants editMessenger 1 Military production aircraft for the Royal Air Force powered by a Gipsy Major ID 23 built Messenger 2A Civil production aircraft powered by the Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 65 built Messenger 2B Three seat variant of the 2A powered by the Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 one built Messenger 2C Same as the 2A but powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D one built Messenger 3 Dual control variant of the 2A powered by a Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 one built later re designated the M 48 Messenger 4 Same as the 2A but powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 three built Messenger 4A Civil version powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D one built and 19 converted from Mk I Messenger 4B One 4A modified with a de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine Messenger 5 One I modified with a Blackburn Bombardier 702 engine M 38A Mariner The prototype Messenger was fitted with an arrester hook for trials as a carrier based anti submarine aircraft Handley Page HP 93 One Messenger was used by Handley Page Reading for test flights using Dufaylite wings at Woodley Operators edit nbsp United Kingdom Royal Air Force Air KruiseSpecification Messenger 2A editData from For Business And Pleasure 6 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 3 passengers Length 24 ft 0 in 7 32 m Wingspan 36 ft 2 in 11 02 m Height 9 ft 6 in 2 90 m Wing area 191 sq ft 17 7 m2 Aspect ratio 6 8 1 Empty weight 1 438 lb 652 kg Max takeoff weight 2 400 lb 1 089 kg Powerplant 1 Cirrus Major III air cooled 4 cylinder inline engine 155 hp 116 kW Performance Maximum speed 135 mph 217 km h 117 kn at sea level Cruise speed 124 mph 200 km h 108 kn Stall speed 25 mph 40 km h 22 kn approx Range 460 mi 740 km 400 nmi Endurance 5 hr 12 minutes Service ceiling 16 000 ft 4 900 m Rate of climb 750 ft min 3 8 m s Take off run to 50 ft 15 m 750 ft 230 m Landing run from 50 ft 25 m 650 ft 200 m See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bellanca 14 13 Levente II Po 2 Fieseler Fi 156 Storch Henschel Hs 126 Kokusai Ki 76 Related lists List of aircraft of World War II List of aircraft of the RAFReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miles Messenger Notes edit miles 1945 0710 Flight Archive www flightglobal com Archived from the original on 6 July 2010 a b Mondey David 1982 The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II Chancellor Press p 174 ISBN 1 85152 668 4 Mondey a b c Jackson Simpson Jerram Aeroplane Monthly November 1986 p 603 Bibliography edit 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 Jackson A J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 London Putnam amp Company Ltd 1974 ISBN 0 370 10014 X Jerram Mike For Business and Pleasure No 4 Part 1 Aeroplane Monthly Vol 14 No 10 October 1986 pp 558 561 ISSN 0143 7240 Jerram Mike For Business and Pleasure No 4 Part Two Aeroplane Monthly Vol 14 No 11 November 1986 pp 600 603 ISSN 0143 7240 Mondey David The Hamlyn Concise guide to British Aircraft of World War II London Chancellor press 2002 ISBN 1 85152 668 4 Simpson Rod General Aviation Handbook Midland Publishing 2005 ISBN 1 85780 222 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Miles Messenger amp oldid 1178961170, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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