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‘Wartime private venture’ Although just six Miles M28s were built between 1941 and 1947, they represented an important development in light aircraft design for pilot training. George Miles began work on the design in 1939, as a replacement for his brother’s Miles Whitney Straight of 1936 and his own Miles Monarch of 1938. However, with the outbreak of war, the project was dropped. By 1941 he was convinced that such an aircraft was required and set out to design one that was more efficient than anything so far produced in that class. It incorporated many features then found in Service aircraft, such as retractable undercarriage, flaps, constant-speed propeller and full instrumentation. It also had an exceptionally good all-round field of view. Built as a private venture, George Miles first flew the prototype in July 1941. In 1943, a model with triple-controls was ordered by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for evaluation by the Services, George Miles having promoted the idea that the M28 could be used for a wide range of roles, including Army co-operation work. It was presumably this aircraft that so impressed a group of Army officers and eventually led to the Miles M38 Messenger, but that’s another story and another painting. ____________________ Gallery Next painting Contact me
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Painted in watercolours. 2007. 200mm x 270mm. |