Miles Sparrowhawk

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M.5 Sparrowhawk
Miles M.5 Sparrowhawk G-AGDL Ringway 4/24/48.jpg
Type: Racing plane
Design country:

United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom

Manufacturer:

Miles Aircraft

First flight:

1935

Commissioning:

1935

Production time:

1935-1936

Number of pieces:

6th

The Miles M.5 Sparrowhawk (dt. Sperber ) was a single-seat racing aircraft of the British manufacturer Miles Aircraft .

development and construction

Prototype of the Sparrowhawk 1949

The prototype of the Sparrowhawk was constructed from Miles Hawk components for Frederick George Miles ' participation in the 1935 King's Cup Race . The hull of the Hawk was shortened, the cockpit was reduced to a seat with the lowest possible seating position and the upper edge was lowered. A special, high-compression version of the de Havilland Gipsy Six served as the drive . Furthermore, the track width of the main landing gear was widened.

use

The King's Cup Race 1935 was carried out on two consecutive days, with a sightseeing flight of 947 mi (1,524  km ) on the program for the 32 participants on the first day (September 6th)  . On the second day, the remaining 20 starters had to fly a triangular course of 51  mi (82  km ) seven times. Although Miles performed very well with an average speed of 163.64  mph (263.35 km / h ) on the scenic  flight route and 172.38  mph (277.42 km / h ) on the triangular course, he was able to do  because of the Handicap regulation in the overall ranking can only reach ninth place.

Another five copies with the designation M.5A were also built for participants in later air races, three of which were delivered to the owners. However, these machines attracted little attention due to their participation in races. In 1936 Victor Smith took part with the Sparrowhawk with the registration G-AELT in the Schlesinger Race from Portsmouth to Johannesburg . However, he had problems with the oil supply behind Salonika and finally left Khartoum . The last two Sparrowhawks were built in 1936 but did not fly until 1940. One of the two machines was converted by the Royal Aircraft Establishment for research into high- lift flaps . It was later dismantled and served as a liaison aircraft . The sixth Sparrowhawk was equipped with small wingspan wings and wide flaps and was also used for research purposes.

The prototype survived the Second World War and was flown by the test pilot of the Fairey Aviation Company CGM Alington at various air races in the United Kingdom until 1950 . At the end of 1953, Fred Dunkerley converted it into a jet-powered racing aircraft. The front part of the fuselage and the stern were modified for this and the machine was given the designation M.77 Sparrowjet . The Sparrowjet was two, in the wing roots integrated gas turbine of the type Turbomeca Palas driven. In 1957, she finally reached her original destination and won the King's Cup Race at an average speed of 228 mph (367 km / h).

One of the machines was sold to South Africa in October 1937 and registered there under the aircraft registration number ZS-ANO. It was equipped with a cockpit cover and 1940 by the South African Air Force for military service confiscated.

Versions

M.5
Prototype, powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Major with 147  HP (108  kW ), one copy built
M.5A
Production version, powered by a Havilland Gipsy Major I with 130 PS (96 kW), five copies built
M.77 Sparrowjet
Conversion of the M.5, powered by two Turbomeca Palas jet engines

operator

South Africa 1928South African Union South African Union
United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom

Technical specifications

Parameter Data
crew 1
length 23.5  ft (7.16  m )
span 28 ft (8.53 m)
height 5.58 ft (1.7 m)
Wing area 138  ft² (12.8  m² )
Empty mass 1,080  lb (490  kg )
Max. Takeoff mass 1,750 lb (794 kg)
Top speed 180  mph (290  km / h )
Service ceiling 12,470 ft (3,801 m)
Range 415  mi (668  km )
Engines 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major with 147  PS (108  kW )

See also

literature

  • Don Lambert Brown: Miles Aircraft Since 1925 . Putnam & Company Ltd., London 1970, ISBN 0-370-00127-3 (English).
  • AJ Jackson: British Civil Aircraft since 1919 . Putnam, London 1974, ISBN 0-370-10014-X (English).
  • AJ Jackson: British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3 . Putnam, London 1988, ISBN 0-85177-818-6 (English).

Web links

Commons : Miles Sparrowhawk  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Alex Henshaw: Miles for the Cup! (Part 2) . In: Airplane Monthly August 1988, pp. 470-473
  2. ^ Richard Riding: From Sparrowhawk to Sparrowjet . In: Airplane Monthly September 1982, pp. 492-495
  3. ↑ One Out Of Nine . In: Flight International . Reed Business Information , October 8, 1936, p. 352–357 (English, archive.org ).
  4. ^ AJ Jackson: British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3 . Putnam, London 1988, ISBN 0-85177-818-6 , pp. 485 (English).