https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Messenger
The Miles M.38 Messenger is a British four-seat liaison and private owner
aircraft built by Miles Aircraft.
The Messenger was designed to meet a British Army requirement for a robust, slow
speed, low maintenance air observation post and liaison aircraft.
The aircraft designed was a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a fixed
tailwheel, powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major 1D inline engine.
Fitted with retractable auxiliary wing flaps enabling a wing loading of around
12.5 lb per square foot, the Messenger featured triple fins and rudders in order
to maintain sufficient controllability down to the exceptionally low stalling
speed of 25 mph.
The prototype was converted from a Miles M.28 Mercury and first flew at Woodley
on 12 September 1942, some three months after an approach by army officers. When
informally test flown by an Aerial Observation Post Squadron it was declared a
success, meeting all the army's requirements, however the Ministry of Aircraft
Production, having not been consulted, reprimanded George Miles for failing to
seek the ministry's permission before rebuilding the aircraft and no orders for
the Miles M.38 were placed for the aerial observation post role, AOP units using
light, fixed-wing aircraft, notably various marks of Auster.
During the war George Miles continued to experiment with the prototype and
suggested the aircraft (known as the M.38A) could be operated in the
anti-submarine role using a small 60 foot (18.29 metre) deck aboard small
merchant ships, landing using a simple arrester wire system. This was tried at
Woodley using a simulated deck (with passengers simulating the weight of depth
charges). Perhaps predictably, no official interest was expressed in this
scheme.
However a year later a small order against Specification 17/43 was placed on
behalf of the British Royal Air Force for the Messenger I to be employed in the
VIP transport passenger transport role.
Wartime users of the type included Marshal of the Royal Air Force 1st Baron
Tedder and Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery. (The Messenger shown at the
beginning of this article - in the guise of this aircraft - attended the 60th
D-Day commemorations at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in 2004.)
Role
Liaison and private owner aircraft
Manufacturer
Miles Aircraft
First flight
12 September 1942
Status
examples still flying
Primary users
Royal Air Force
Private owner pilots
Produced
1942-1948
Number built
93
Developed from
Miles M.28 Mercury
During the war years of the 21 Messengers produced seventeen Messenger 1s
survived, and when retired from RAF duties most were converted for civilian use
as the Messenger 4A. They were flown by private pilots and business owners.
In 1944 the prototype was rebuilt as the M.48 Messenger 3 with fully retractable
electrically-operated split trailing-edge flaps and a 155 h.p. Cirrus Major III
engine. This model was not further developed as it did not provide any advantage
over the other variants.
Post-war production centred on the Messenger 2A for the civilian market,
aircraft being built at Newtownards in Northern Ireland and flown to Woodley for
final fitting out. After 71 aircraft were built, production ceased in 1948; a
single example was assembled, from existing parts, in 1950.
Several examples of the type were sold to Australia and others were exported to
Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand, South Africa and
Switzerland.
The aircraft was a popular touring and racing aircraft during the late 1940s and
early 1950s. In 1954 Harold Wood in G-AKBO won the King's Cup Race air race at
133 mph.
Several examples were still flying in the United Kingdom and New Zealand in
early 2011 with private owners and flying groups.
Specification (Messenger 2A)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 3 passengers
Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 2 in (11.02 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Wing area: 191 sq ft (17.7 m2)
Aspect ratio: 6.8:1
Empty weight: 1,438 lb (652 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,400 lb (1,089 kg)
(116 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn) at sea level
Cruise speed: 124 mph (200 km/h, 108 kn)
Stall speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn) (approx.)
Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi)
Endurance: 5 hr 12 minutes
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,900 m)
Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 750 ft (230 m)
Landing run from 50 ft (25 m): 650 ft (200 m)
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