Miles Monitor

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The Miles M.23 Monitor was a twin engined British target tug aircraft designed and built by Miles Aircraft towards the end of the Second World War. It was used in small numbers by the Fleet Air Arm.

Contents 1 History 2 Specifications (TT.Mk.2) 3 References 4 Related content

[edit] History

The Monitor came about as a response to Specification Q9/42 for a twin engined high-speed target tug for the Royal Air Force. The prototype first flew on 5 April 1944^[1] . The Monitor was a high winged, twin engined aircraft, with an all-metal fuselage and wooden wings. It was fitted with novel hydraulic winch, as the normal windlasses could not be used at speeds of much more than 150 mph^[1], while the Monitor was required to tow targets at double this speed.

The original requirement for a target towing aircraft for the RAF was abandoned, and the orders for Monitors was taken over by the Fleet Air Arm, who required an aircraft capable of simulating dive bombing attacks on warships. To meet this requirement, the aircraft was modified with dive brakes and a dorsal cupola. At the end of the war, contracts for 600 Monitors were cancelled, leaving only 20 to be built ^[2]. These were evaluated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at RAF Boscombe Down ^[2] and may have been used briefly by Fleet Requirement Units ^[1], before being replaced by the de Havilland Mosquito TT.39 in the target towing role.

[edit] Specifications (TT.Mk.2)

Data from The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II - David Mondey^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 47 ft 8 in (14.53 m)
• Wingspan: 56 ft 3 in (17.15 m)
• Height: 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)
• Wing area: 500 ft² (46.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 15,850 lb (7,189 kg)
• Loaded weight: lb (kg)
• Useful load: lb (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 21,075 lb (9,559 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Wright Cyclone R-2600-31 radial, 1,700 hp (1268 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 287 knots (330 mph, 531 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4750 m)
• Cruise speed: 230 knots (265 mph, 426 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4750 m)
• Stall speed: knots (mph, km/h)
• Range: 2391 nm (2,750mi, 4,426 km)
• Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8840 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
• Wing loading: 42.2 lb/ft² (206 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.161 hp/lb (0.265 kW/kg)
• Climb to 10,000ft 5 minutes

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Thetford, Owen (1978). British Naval Aircraft since 1912, Fourth Edition, London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 30021 1. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Fleet Air Arm Archive - Miles Monitor. Retrieved on March 5, 2007.
3. ^ Mondey, David (1994). The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press. ISBN 1 85152 668 4. 

• British Aircraft Directory
• Fleet Air Arm Archive
• British Aircraft of WWII

[edit] Related content

 

 

Designation sequence

Miles Messenger - Miles Libellula - Miles Monitor - Miles Aerovan - Miles Gemini

 

See also

de Havilland Mosquito