The Tiny British Aircraft That Could Land Almost Anywhere | Miles M.38 Messenger

Hello, aviators. How are you today? My name is Magna Nordal, and I am known at uh New Zealand Warbirds Association at Ardmore Airfield in New Zealand. And I'm standing in front of a historic aircraft, a Miles Messenger. Uh construction from 1942, built by the British uh light aircraft manufacturer Miles. And this aircraft is painted in the colors of uh the personal transport of Field Marshal Montgomery, who used three of those aircraft during the Second World War. The Miles M. 38 Messenger is a British four-seat liaison aircraft developed and manufactured by Miles Aircraft in the United Kingdom. It was created in response to an informal request made in June 1942 by group of British Army officers who wanted a rugged, low-maintenance observation aircraft capable of flying at very low speeds. The prototype first flew in September 1942. Trials with an aerial observation post squadron proved highly successful, with the aircraft meeting all Army requirements. However, the Ministry of Aircraft Production had not been consulted during development and criticized Miles Aircraft for proceeding without official approval. As a result, no production orders were placed. A year later, a small order was issued under specification 17/43 for the Royal Air Force. This aircraft, designated Messenger Mark I, served in a VIP and passenger transport role, with 23 examples produced. Following the war, Miles produced 65 civilian versions designated the Messenger Mark IIA. A handful of additional variants were also constructed, bringing the total production of the Messerschmitt to just 93 aircraft. Let's do a walk-around. Monty was the nickname of Montgomery. This propeller drives a generator, supplying the electrical systems. The landing gear has a trailing link, which makes the aircraft suitable for rugged airstrips. The wing has a rounded leading edge, which ensures good low-speed handling. The black and white stripes were painted on Allied aircraft before and after the invasion in Normandy in 1944. They made it easier for ground forces to identify the aircraft as friendly. The aircraft features a wooden monocoque structure, giving a very smooth surface. The wing area is quite large, giving a wing loading of just 12. 5 lb per square foot. The flaps is attached behind the wing. The stall speed is only 25 mph, and the aircraft is easy and forgiving to fly. The cruise speed is 124 mph, and the endurance exceeds 5 hours. The doors open upwards like gull wings. To assist the entry, there is a grip here. The cabin can seat one pilot and three passengers. The instrument panel is basic and appears to have been upgraded with VHF radio, directional gyro, and transponder. The pitch trim wheel is between the seats. The empennage has triple fins and rudders. This ensures authority at low speeds. The stars under the flag represent Montgomery's rank as field marshal. The combined pitot tube and static port is located under the left wing. — And not to forget, here is a venturi tube used to provide vacuum for a gyro instruments. The windscreen is a distinct trademark for Miles. The Messenger Mark 1 was fitted with a 6. 1 L de Havilland Major 1 air-cooled inverted inline engine. An engine also used in the well-known de Havilland Tiger Moth. The inverted cylinder arrangement improved propeller ground clearance, although it tends to suffer from oil leaks. The Messenger Mark 2A is fitted with a Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engine producing 155 horsepower when needed. Here we have a look at the engine cylinders hanging upside down. And that concludes the walk around on Montgomery's Miles Messenger.

This museum has many other interesting aircraft on display, and many of them are flying regularly. Which aircraft should I cover next time? Have a look at the collection in the outro and let me know in the comment section below. And that is all for this time. Thank you for watching. Have a wonderful day and happy learning. —