Miles Gemini
Miles Gemini | |
---|---|
Role | Twin-engined touring aircraft |
Manufacturer | Miles Aircraft |
First flight | 26 October 1945 |
Introduction | 1946 |
Produced | 1945-1947 |
Number built | 170[1] |
Developed from | Miles Messenger |
The Miles M.65 Gemini was a British twin-engined four-seat touring aircraft designed and built by
Development of the Gemini was conducted at a rapid pace following the end of the
Within its first year of availability, 130 Geminis had been sold, proving its popularity. It performance was such that it became a successful racing aircraft, with one example alone winning numerous competitions. The company endeavoured to introduce numerous improvements upon the type, along with early work to produce a successor to the Gemini. However, these ambitions were cut short by the company's collapse after its bankruptcy in 1947. While efforts to revive production were made, including the development of the improved Miles M.75 Aries, the type was never able to regain momentum.
Development
In the aftermath of the
On 26 October 1945, the prototype Gemini performed its
The Gemini was put into large scale production straight away; it was also recognised that the superior performance of the type had eliminated for the Miles Mercury, thus production plans for the latter were abandoned in favour of concentrating the company's resources on the Gemini.[2] Such was the market's positive response to the type that 130 Geminis had been sold within its first year of availability. It would in fact be the last Miles-designed aircraft to attain large scale production.[2] While the company had commenced work on developing a Gemini successor, wider events would derail such ambitions.[1]
Miles, recognising the value of the Gemini in its lineup, sought to further develop and improve the type. However, even as the company was finalising work on numerous improvements, including the adoption of new engines, the firm was forced to declare bankruptcy due to the poor state of its finances.[6] Following the collapse of the company during 1947 and the subsequent purchase of the Reading aircraft factory and other assets by rival aircraft manufacturer Handley Page, eight aircraft that had not been completed were assembled; two by Handley Page at Woodley in 1950, five by Wolverhampton Aviation at Pendeford Aerodrome in 1951, and one by F. G. Miles Limited at Redhill Aerodrome.[7]
Design
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Miles.m65.gemini.1a.oo-rld.arp.jpg/220px-Miles.m65.gemini.1a.oo-rld.arp.jpg)
The Gemini was a four-seat low-wing cantilever monoplane developed for civil transport duties. It was primarily built from plastic-bonded plywood construction.[3] It was furnished with a one-piece wing that was fitted with non-retractable auxiliary aerofoil flaps. Various aspects of the Gemini were shared with the Messenger; while a similar tail unit was one such shared feature, the Gemini had only twin vertical tail units instead of the more complex triple arrangement of the Messenger as the higher wing loading and elevated landing speed raised of the latter made the twin arrangement practical.[3]
The flight controls of the Gemini was well-harmonised and remained effective right up to the stall margin; the characteristics of a typical stall were relatively benign as well and free of any tendency to spin while recovery was rapid.[3] The controls were effective to the extent that the final approach could be performed only barely above touch down speed. One of the few adverse handling characteristics was a marked tendency for the aircraft to swing on takeoff, which was easily addressed by the pilot using full rudder and differential throttle settings to counteract.[8] While not typically fitted as such, a handful of Geminis were outfitted with dual controls.[9]
Originally powered by 90 hp (67,5 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Minor engines, the later-built Gemini variants were powered by several different engines.[6] To give the aircraft its relatively long range, the aircraft featured a pair of 15 gallon outboard tanks that supplemented the two 18 gallon tanks that the design shared with the Messenger.[2] The Gemini was frequently promoted by its manufacturer as being the "safest light aeroplane in the world".[10]
Operational history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Miles_M.65_Gemini_1A_G-AKGD_Sive_RWY_10.49_edited-2.jpg/220px-Miles_M.65_Gemini_1A_G-AKGD_Sive_RWY_10.49_edited-2.jpg)
The Gemini quickly proved to be popular with private owners for touring throughout Europe. In addition, large numbers were exported to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and numerous other Commonwealth countries. Furthermore, two-thirds of all Geminis that had been initially sold to British customers would be subsequently resold aboard, the type being fairly desirable upon the secondary sales market.[5]
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, individual Geminis were frequently entered in air races; in one example, G-AKDC, flown by J.N. 'Nat' Somers AFC, emerged as the victor of the 1949
Several aircraft were used as light business transports by commercial firms, including
During 1951, a pair of aircraft were completed by F. G. Miles that were fitted with 155 hp (116 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Major III engines, along with enlarged and heightened fins for better handling during single-engine operations.[13] To reflect the revised design, which gave the aircraft an increased payload amongst other performance changes, they were re-designated Miles M.75 Aries. Although quantity production of this model was not performed, a handful of existing Geminis were retrofitted with some of these changes.[14]
The Cinema Museum in London holds extensive footage of one of these planes touring Europe in the 1950's.[15]
Variants
- Gemini 1
- Prototype with two 100 hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 engines and fixed landing gear, one built.
- Gemini 1A
- Production version with two 100 hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 engines, 134 built, plus one assembled by Handley Page (Reading).
- Gemini 1B
- Production version with two 100 hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 engines, one built.
- Gemini 2
- Version with two 130 hp Lycoming O-290-3/1 engines, 2 built.
- Gemini 3
- Version with two 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 1C engines, 1 built, plus one assembled by Handley Page (Reading) and one by F.G.Miles.
- Gemini 3A
- Version with 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 1 engines, 2 built plus 5 assembled by Wolverhampton Aviation.
- Gemini 3B
- Version with 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 1-3 engines
- Gemini 3C or 7
- Version with 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 2 engines, two built
- Gemini 8
- Early aircraft modified to Aries standard with two 155 hp Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engines.
- Aries
- Version with two 155hp Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engines driving Miles-Reed propellers.
Operators
- National Airways Corporation - One Gemini was owned by NAC.[17]
- Air Contractors
- Blue Line Airways
- Culliford Airlines
- Derby Aviation
- Hornton Airways
- International Airways
- Lancashire Aircraft Corporation
- Loxhams Flying Services
- Sivewright Airways
- Starways
- Ulster Aviation
- Wirral Airways
- Wright Aviation
Survivors
Six aircraft are currently registered on the British Civil Aircraft register as of 2017.[18] One Gemini 1A is also active in the Swedish aircraft register. One aircraft, registered ZK-ANT, is on static display in New Zealand at the
Specifications (Gemini 1A)
Data from British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume III,[19] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947[20]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 2 in (11.02 m)
- Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
- Wing area: 191 sq ft (17.7 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 6.86
- Empty weight: 1,910 lb (866 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 36 imp gal (43 US gal; 160 L) in two centre-section tanks + optional 24 imp gal (29 US gal; 110 L) in two cabin tanks; 4 imp gal (4.8 US gal; 18 L) oil
- Powerplant: 2 × Blackburn Cirrus Minor II4-cyl inverted air-cooled in-line piston engines, 100 hp (75 kW) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch airscrews
Performance
- Maximum speed: 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kn) at 2,800 lb (1,300 kg)
- Cruise speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
- Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
- Range: 520 mi (840 km, 450 nmi) still air with 36 imp gal (43 US gal; 160 L) fuel
- Ferry range: 820 mi (1,320 km, 710 nmi) still air with 60 imp gal (72 US gal; 270 L) fuel
- Endurance: 5.8 hours
- Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,100 m)
- Rate of climb: 870 ft/min (4.4 m/s)
- Wing loading: 15.7 lb/sq ft (77 kg/m2) at MTOW
- Power/mass: 15 lb/hp (9.124 kg/kW)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Citations
- ^ a b Brown 1970, p. 324.
- ^ a b c d Brown 1970, p. 317.
- ^ a b c d e f Brown 1970, p. 316.
- ^ Brown 1970, pp. 316-319.
- ^ a b c Brown 1970, p. 319.
- ^ a b c Brown 1970, pp. 319-320.
- ^ Jackson 1988, pp. 86–87.
- ^ Brown 1970, pp. 316-317.
- ^ Brown 1970, p. 321.
- ^ "Cover page advert". FlightGlobal. L (1969). 19 September 1946.
- ^ "Elmdon Results in Detail." Flight, 11 August 1949. p. 152.
- ^ Brown 1970, p. 320.
- ^ Brown 1970, p. 322.
- ^ Brown 1970, pp. 322-323.
- ^ "Cinema Museum Home Movie Database.xlsx". Google Docs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Nordeen 1991, p.195.
- ^ "ZK-AQO". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ^ https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?appid=1 CAA GINFO
- ^ Jackson 1988, p. 88.
- Sampson Low, Marston & Company. pp. 3c–4c.
Bibliography
- Brown, Don L. (1970). Miles Aircraft since 1925 (1st ed.). London: ISBN 0-370-00127-3.
- Elliott, Bryn (January–February 1999). "On the Beat: The First 60 Years of Britain's Air Police". ISSN 0143-5450.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing
- Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972:Volume III.London:Putnam, 1988, ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
- Lewis, Cecil. Gemini To Joburg. Harmondsworth: ISBN 9780670800629.
- Nordeen, Lon. Fighters Over Israel. London:Guild Publishing, 1991.
External links
Media related to Miles M.65 Gemini at Wikimedia Commons