Miles Magister

The Miles M.14 Magister is a two-seat monoplane basic trainer aircraft designed and built by the British aircraft manufacturer Miles Aircraft. It was affectionately known as the Maggie.Template:Citation needed It was authorised to perform aerobatics.<ref name="Brown 136"/>

The Magister was developed during the 1930s to Specification T.40/36, itself based on the existing Miles Hawk Trainer which had been ordered in small numbers.<ref>"Miles Magister", Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, September 2009. (Retrieved 28 April 2022)</ref> The first prototype's maiden flight was on 20 March 1937. It quickly became praised for its handling qualities, and was ordered into quantity production.

Entering service barely a year before the start of the Second World War, the Magister became a key training aircraft. It was the first monoplane designed as a trainer to be used by the Royal Air Force (RAF). During the war it was purchased in large numbers for the RAF, the Fleet Air Arm and various overseas military operators. It proved an ideal introduction to the Spitfire and Hurricane for new pilots.Template:Citation needed

After the war surplus Magisters were exported in large numbers, with many converted for civilian use.

Development

Background

The origin of the Miles Magister was a decision made by the company's management in 1936 to further develop its military trainer range;<ref name="Brown 135"/> this decision was influenced by the firm's recent success with the Miles M.2 Hawk Trainer as an elementary trainer, the first low-wing monoplane to be adopted as a trainer by the Royal Air Force (RAF).<ref name="Brown 135">Brown 1970, p. 135.</ref> It was decided to produce a derivative of the Hawk Trainer to satisfy the Air Ministry's Specification T.40/36. The submission ignored the policy of only procuring metal aircraft which the RAF had at the time.<ref name="Brown 1356">Brown 1970, pp. 135-136.</ref>

The new type was broadly similar to the Hawk Trainer: the majority of the differences between the two pertained to the cockpit, which was enlarged and had numerous new features to better meet military training requirements.<ref name="Brown 136"/> The first prototype made its maiden flight on 20 March 1937, flown by F.G. Miles.<ref name="johnson p154-5">Johnson Aeroplane Monthly March 1980, pp. 154–155.</ref> During the following month, the aircraft was named the Magister. During early flights the aircraft exhibited a tendency to spin; this problem was solved by several modifications, including elevating the tailplane by Template:Cvt, the fitting of anti-spin strakes to the rear fuselage and the adoption of a taller rudder.<ref name="Brown 136"/><ref name="johnson p155-6">Johnson Aeroplane Monthly March 1980, pp. 155–156.</ref> The alterations worked so well that the Magister became the first low-wing cantilever monoplane to be authorised by the Air Ministry to perform aerobatics.<ref name="Brown 136">Brown 1970, p. 136.</ref>

Design

The Magister is a low wing cantilever monoplane whose design is derived from Miles' Hawk Trainer. Noticeable differences include the significant enlargement of the cockpit, since a more spacious cockpit was required to reasonably accommodate the presence of parachutes and various training aids, including the provision of blind-flying apparatus.<ref name="Brown 136"/> The open cockpits have windscreens made of Perspex; baggage and unused equipment can be stored in a sizable bay aft of the rear cockpit via an exterior door.<ref name = "pilotweb 2013"/> Pilots are required to enter and exit the aircraft via a wingroot walkway on the starboard side.<ref name = "pilotweb 2013"/>

The Magister is largely built of wood, the fuselage consisting of a spruce structure with a plywood covering; similar materials were used for the three-piece wing and the tail unit.<ref name="johnson p154-5"/><ref name = "pilotweb 2013"/> The wing centre section has no dihedral and is of constant section with outer sections having dihedral and tapering towards the tip.<ref name="fi41 ph">Flight 12 June 1941, p. h.</ref> It has split flaps as standard; it was the first RAF trainer to have flaps.<ref name="johnson p154">Johnson Aeroplane Monthly March 1980, p. 154.</ref><ref name="thet raf p334">Thetford 1957, p. 334.</ref><ref name = "pilotweb 2013">Template:Cite web</ref> It has a fixed tailwheel undercarriage with drag-reducing spats on the main wheels; to reduce the landing distance, the undercarriage was fitted with Bendix drum brakes.<ref name="fi41 ph"/><ref name = "pilotweb 2013"/> Power is provided by a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine and the fuel is contained in a pair of tanks in the centre section.<ref name = "pilotweb 2013"/>

The flying characteristics and performance of the Magister lent themselves well to the trainer role; the Magister possessed superior performance to any contemporary elementary trainer.<ref name="Brown 139"/> It readily enabled trainee pilots to safely learn the handling techniques of modern frontline fighter aircraft. Its ease of handling and safety were attributes that were vigorously demonstrated by Frederick Miles performing stunts such as hands-free landings and formation flying while inverted.<ref name="Brown 139">Brown 1970, p. 139.</ref> The flight controls are cable-actuated; some of the controls, such as the rudder pedals, can be adjusted to suit the individual pilot.<ref name = "pilotweb 2013"/>

Into production

Having been impressed by the prototype's performance during trials, the Air Ministry selected the Magister to fulfil the specification.<ref name="Brown 1369">Brown 1970, pp. 136, 139.</ref> Production began in October 1937. Recognising the importance and value represented by the order, the company committed a significant portion of its manufacturing capacity to producing the type, abandoning its plans to produce other aircraft, such as the Miles Peregrine, to concentrate resources on the mass production effort.<ref name="Brown 1369"/>

Production of the Magister continued until 1941, by which time 1,203 aircraft had been built by Miles.<ref name="Brown 1445">Brown 1970, pp. 144-145.</ref> More than a hundred Magisters were licence built in Turkey.<ref name="Brown 145"/> Contemporary glues used to assemble the wooden aircraft have not stood the test of time and few Magisters have survived.Template:Citation needed

Operational history

Initially, production Magisters were supplied to flying clubs operated by the Straight Corporation, as well as to several overseas government customers.<ref name="Brown 139"/> By the Second World War, in excess of 700 Magisters had entered service with RAF Elementary Flying Training Schools; the type would eventually equip 16 such schools as well as the Central Flying School. The bulk of civilian-owned Hawk Majors were also pressed into military service as trainers alongside the type.Template:Citation needed

During June 1940, as part of British anti-invasion preparations, roughly 15 Magisters were fitted with bomb racks for the carriage of up to eight Template:Cvt bombs, to fly as a light bombers under a scheme called Operation Banquet. The preparations were never put into effect and the type never saw active combat use in this capacity.<ref>Mondey 1994, p. 168.</ref><ref name="Brown 140">Brown 1970, p. 140.</ref>

File:Miles M.14A Hawk Trainer Coupe G-AJRT Yeadon 05.55.jpg

Hawk Trainer Coupe G-AJRT at Leeds (Yeadon) Airport in May 1955

File:Miles M.14A MHT3 OO-NIC Ghent 25.0765 edited-2.jpg

Many Magisters were exported postwar, this example being registered in Belgium.

The Magister also participated in experimental wartime research, such as to evaluate a long range ground attack platform during 1941.<ref name="Brown 140"/> Seeking to increase the payloads of conventional medium bombers, British military planners suggested the use of a so-called 'auxiliary wing' that could be towed like a glider behind a bomber; this wing would be loaded with either additional fuel or munitions. To test this concept, a modified Magister was produced; by the time testing had reached an advanced stage, the RAF had significantly bolstered its offensive forces with heavy bombers, removing the need to deploy the auxiliary wing concept.<ref name="Brown 1401">Brown 1970, pp. 140-141.</ref> Other aircraft received experimental modifications to evaluate new equipment or aerodynamic features.<ref name="Brown 1414">Brown 1970, pp. 141-144.</ref>

Following the end of the conflict, large numbers of Magisters were disposed of, leading to many being converted for civilian use. Such aircraft were renamed the Hawk Trainer III.<ref name="Brown 145">Brown 1970, p. 145.</ref> Amongst its civil uses was air racing; during the 1950 Kings Cup Air Race alone, eight Hawk Trainer IIIs were entered, one of which (a modified cabin version G-AKRV), piloted by E. Day, was awarded first place, having achieved a recorded speed of 138.5 mph while doing so. At least two other aircraft were thus modified.<ref>Jackson 1974, p. 69.</ref>

During the postwar years, many Magisters were exported to overseas customers, including private pilot owners and flying clubs. Countries that purchased the type included Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand and Tunisia.

Variants

Miles M.14 Magister / Hawk Trainer III

Initial production version.

Miles M.14A Magister I / Hawk Trainer III

Improved variant.

Miles M.14B Magister II / Hawk Trainer II

Improved variant with a Template:Cvt Blackburn Cirrus II engine

File:Miles Hawk (Magister).jpg

Hawk Trainer III

B.F.7

(Template:Langx) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the Magister I.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Operators

Template:AUS

• Royal Australian Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" /> – One Magister Mk.I purchased in 1938 for comparison with de Havilland Tiger Moth in the basic trainer role <ref>Aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force, 2021. p 94</ref>

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Royal Canadian Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" />

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• Egyptian Army Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" />
• Royal Egyptian Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" /> – 42 aircraft.

Template:BEL

• Belgian Air Force – One aircraft operated from 1946 to 1948.

Template:EST

• Estonian Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" /> – One aircraft

Template:IRL

• Irish Air Corps<ref name="MacCarron" /> – 27 aircraft from 1939 to 1952.

Template:LVA

• Latvian Aviation Regiment<ref name="Amos2009" />

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• Malayan Volunteer Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" />

Template:NZ

• Royal New Zealand Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" /> – Two aircraft.
  • No. 1 Squadron RNZAF
  • No. 42 Squadron RNZAF

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• Portuguese Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" /> – Ten aircraft.

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• South African Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" />

Template:TUR

• Turkish Air Force

Template:THA

• Thai Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" />
• Thai Navy<ref name="Amos2009" />

Template:UK

• Fleet Air Arm
• Royal Air Force<ref name="Amos2009" />
  • No. 24 Squadron RAF
  • No. 81 Squadron RAF
  • No. 173 Squadron RAF
  • No. 267 Squadron RAF

Surviving aircraft

File:Miles Magister, Imperial War Museum, Duxford.JPG

Miles Magister at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford

By 2009, ten Hawk Trainer IIIs were registered in the United Kingdom, of which several were airworthy.Template:Citation needed Furthermore, several ex-service Magisters have been preserved and on display – including an ex-RAF example at the Imperial War Museum in the UK,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an ex-Irish Air Corps example at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

One Miles Magister was restored to airworthy in the Aeroclub of San Martín, Mendoza, Argentina.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Since 2019, this aircraft has been under Czech ownership and is operated by R.A.F. Station Czechoslovakia at Podhořany airport, in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

ZK-AWY is preserved in the Museum of Transport and Technology, New Zealand.

TC-KAY is preserved in the Turkish Air Force Museum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

Bibliography

• Amos, Peter. Miles Aircraft – The early years. Tonbridge: Air-Britain, 2009. Template:ISBN.
• Amos, Peter. Miles Aircraft – The Wartime Years 1939 to 1945. Tonbridge: Air-Britain, 2012. Template:ISBN.
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• "Friend or Foe: Two Familiar British Trainers: Tiger Moth and Miles Magister". Flight, Vol. XXXIX, No. 1694, 12 June 1941. p. h.
• Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. Template:ISSN.
• Green, William and Gerald Pollinger. The Aircraft of the World. London: Macdonald, 1955.
• Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 2. London: Putnam, 1973. Template:ISBN.
• Johnson, Graham H.R. "RAF Piston Trainers No. 7: Miles M.14 Magister". Aeroplane Monthly, Vol. 8 No. 3, March 1980. pp. 154–161.
• Template:Cite book
• Lukins, A.H. and D.A. Russell. The Book of Miles Aircraft. Leicester, UK: The Harborough Publishing Company Ltd., 1946.
• MacCarron, Donal. Wings Over Ireland. Leicester: Midland Publishing, 1996. Template:ISBN.
• Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. Chancellor Press, 1994. Template:ISBN.
• Ovčáčík, Michal and Karel Susa. Miles Magister: M.14, M14A, M14B. Prague: Mark I Ltd., 2001. Template:ISBN.
• Simpson, Rod The Archive Photographs Series Miles Aircraft Stroud: Chalford Publishing Ltd, 1998.
• Swanborough, Gordon. British Aircraft at War, 1939–1945. East Sussex, UK: HPC Publishing, 1997. Template:ISBN.
• Temple, Julian C. Wings over Woodley – The Story of Miles Aircraft & and the Adwest Group Bourne End: Aston Publications, 1987.
• Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57. London: Putnam, 1957.

External links

• Miles Magister and Miles Hawk Trainer IIIs – British Aircraft of World War II
• Miles Magister Video