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The Miles M.3 Falcon was a 1930s British four-seat cabin monoplane designed by Miles Aircraft Limited.
[edit] Design and development
The M.3 Falcon was a cabin low-wing monoplane with fixed tail-wheel undercarriage, designed in 1934. It was structurally similar to the earlier M.2 Hawk family, but had side-by-side seating for two in a glazed cockpit. It was powered by a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine. The prototype, built by Philips and Powis, first flew at Woodley Aerodrome on 12 October 1934. The prototype was fitted with extra fuel tanks and was entered into the MacRobertson Race from England to Australia in October 1934. It took 27 days to reach Darwin, but returned in a record time of 7 days 19 hours 15 minutes, including one stage of 1800 miles non-stop from Jodhpur to Basra.
The first production aircraft (designated M.3A Falcon Major) was flown in January 1935. It had a wider fuselage than the prototype, with seating for four occupants. A re-engined three-seat variant (M.3B Falcon Six) was fitted with a 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy Six. The M.3B was entered into the 1935 King's Cup Race and won with a speed of 176.28 mph. An enlarged five-seat version was developed as the M.4 Merlin.
[edit] Operational history
Although built as private touring aircraft a number of aircraft were delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment as testbeds, including trials of laminar flow wings and spoilers. At the outbreak of the war three aircraft remained civilian as communications aircraft with various companies, others were impressed into service by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.
[edit] Variants
- M.3
- Prototype three-seat version with a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, one built.
- M.3A Falcon Major
- Production four-seat version with a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, 12 built.
- M.3B Falcon Six
- Three-seat version with a 200hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, eight-built.
- M.3C Falcon Six
- Four-seater with dual controls with a 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, 3 built.
- M.3D
- Variant with a 200hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, two built.
- M.3E
- Variant with a 200hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, one built but uncertfied and dismantalled.
- M.3F
- Designation used on a former M.3B modified for spoiler trials.
- M.4A Merlin
- Five-seater, four built.
[edit] Operators
Australia
Sweden
United Kingdom
[edit] Specifications (M.3A)
General characteristics
- Capacity: Three
- Length: 25 ft 0 in ( m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in ( m)
- Height: 6 ft 6 in ( m)
- Wing area: 174.3 ft² ( m²)
- Empty weight: 1,300 lb ( kg)
- Gross weight: 2,200 lb ( kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine, 130 hp ( kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 145 mph (235 km/h)
- Range: 615 miles (990 km)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
- Rate of climb: 750 ft/min ( m/s)
[edit] References
[edit] Bibliography
- Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0.
- Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-37000-127-3.
- Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
- Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor press, 2002. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985) Orbis Publishing
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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