Beagle B.218

The Beagle B.218X (also known as the Beagle-Miles M.218) was a 1960s British four-seat twin-engined light transport monoplane built by Beagle Aircraft Limited at Shoreham Airport.^[1][2] The prototype was modified into the Beagle B.242X but neither variant entered production.^[1][2]

Design and development

Before it became part of Beagle Miles Aircraft had looked at producing replacements for the (single-engined) Miles Messenger and (twin-engined) Gemini.^[1] Three low-wing monoplane designs were considered, the single-engined fixed landing gear Miles 114 in two and four-seat versions and the retractable landing gear twin-engined four-seat Miles 115.^[1] When Beagle was formed it was decided to build a prototype of the Miles 115 design designated the Beagle-Miles M.218; it was also decided to build a prototype of the Miles 114 as the M.117 but in the end it was not built.^[1]

The M.218 was of plastic construction and was powered by two 145 hp (108 kW) Rolls Royce Continental O-300 piston engines and had a retractable tricycle landing gear.^[1] Construction started at the end of 1961 and it made its first flight at Shoreham on 19 August 1962.^[1] Registered G-ASCK^[3] it was displayed at the 1962 Farnborough Air Show priced at £9,800, it did create interest from customers although they had a preference for metal built aircraft rather than the plastic M.218.^[1]

The production aircraft were to be named Martlet but the company did not have the money to put it into production and it was withdrawn in 1963 for modification.^[1] A new metal fuselage was built and more powerful 195 hp (145 kW) IO-360 engines were fitted.^[1] Now re-registered G-ASTX^[4] it reflew again on the 27 August 1964, now designated as the Beagle B.242.^[1] The aircraft was issued with a certificate of airworthiness on 18 June 1965 but the company was busy with the production of the twin-engined Beagle B.206 and single-engined Beagle Pup and could not afford to further develop the type or put it into production.^[1] The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 1966 and subsequently destroyed in a fire in August 1969.^[1]

Variants

Beagle B.218X

Prototype with O-300 engines, 1 built.^[2]

Beagle B.242X

M.218 extensively modified and fitted with IO-360 engines.^[2]

Specifications (B.218X)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1.^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
• Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) ^[5]
• Wing area: 170 sq ft (16 m²) ^[5]
• Aspect ratio: 8.05:1^[5]
• Airfoil: NACA 23018 at root, NACA 2412 at tip^[5]
• Empty weight: 2,164 lb (982 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,200 lb (1,451 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 70 L (15 imp gal; 18 US gal)^[5]
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Continental O-300-C air-cooled flat-six, 145 hp (108 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h; 161 kn)
• Cruise speed: 140 mph (122 kn; 225 km/h)
• Range: 1,000 mi (869 nmi; 1,609 km) (max fuel)^[5]
• Service ceiling: 21,700 ft (6,614 m) ^[5]
• Rate of climb: 1,370 ft/min (7.0 m/s) ^[5]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Beagle B.206

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beagle aircraft.

Notes

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Beagle 1974, p. 38
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Jackson 1974, p. 297
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register - G-ASCK
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register - G-ASTX
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Taylor 1962, pp. 130–131.

Sources