MILES HAWK
- Miles M.2 Hawk Series, first of a series of Miles-designed light aircraft
to achieve quantity production, the Miles M.2 was a low-wing monoplane
with tandem open cockpits, first flown on March 29, 1933. Production (by
Phillips & Powis Ltd at Woodley) totalled 55 in 16 months before more
powerful Hawk Major appeared, most of the earlier aircraft being powered
by the 90 hp Blackburn Cirrus IIIA. Two M.2s impressed for RAF in September
1940 and a third in January 1941 saw little use before becoming instructional
airframes.
Miles Hawk Major: With the 130 hp DH Gipsy Major I and
metal engine mounts, variants of the Miles Hawk Major followed the original
Miles Hawk into production at Woodley in mid-1934. Some 18 M.2Fs and 47
M.2Hs built, latter introducing split trailing-edge flaps. Small numbers
of other, more specialised, versions, starting with Miles M.2R Hawk Trainer
I, led to development of Miles
M.14 Magister. From late 1939, nine Miles M.2F/M.2H Hawk Majors impressed
in the UK, plus single M.2P with increased wing span, and single, generally
similar, Miles M.2R. Several survived entire war period serving in communications
and station 'hack' roles. One other M.2F impressed in June 1942 for Communications
Flight, Levant, to support Arab Legion ops in Middle East; and one other
M.2H impressed in India in 1942. Two M.2Hs in South Africa impressed for
SAAF; two Miles Hawk Majors in Australia similarly joined RAAF, and four
assorted M.2 variants impressed for RNZAF.
Data for Miles M.2H: Max speed, 150 mph (241 km/h). Service ceiling, 20,000
ft (6,100 m). Empty weight, 1,150 Ib (521 kg). Gross weight, 1,800 Ib
(816 kg). Span, 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m). Length, 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m). Wing
area, 169 sqft (15.7 nf).
Miles Hawk Trainer II: For primary training use at No
8 E & RFTS, Woodley, Miles adapted the Miles M.2H Hawk Major to have
enlarged cockpit openings, to permit use of parachutes. Twelve built as
Miles M.2W Hawk Trainer IIs in 1935, one similar M.2X and eight virtually
identical M.2Ys, of which two to Reading Aero Club and remainder to the
E & RFTS. The two former impressed in 1941, by which time remainder
of Hawk Trainer Us all retired, but one original M.2W impressed in 1943
after overhaul at Woodley. Ten Miles M.2Zs built for Romanian Air Force
in 1936 and probably still in service when Romania entered the War.
