Main Menu
Britain's Miles Master and Martinet trainer1
Miles Master M9 Mk IA trainer:
Miles Master M19 Mk II trainer:
Miles Master M27 Mk III trainer:
Design
The Miles Kestrel first flew in 1937 but it was rejected by the British Air Ministry.1 The improved Miles Master had an order for 500 placed in 1938, which was the biggest order at the time for an Royal Air Force (RAF) trainer.1 The Master became the standard advanced trainer for the RAF during World War II.1
Prototype
The prototype for the Master I was first flown in late 1938.1
The prototype for the Martinet was first flown on April 24, 1942.1
Production
The Master Mk II first flew in November 1939.1 The Master Mk III first flew in 1940.1
Production ended at the end of 1942 for the Masters.1 Production ended in 1945 for the Martinet.1
- Master Mk I: 9001
- Master Mk II: 1,7471
- Master Mk III: 6021
- Master total: 3,2491
- Martinet: 1,7931
- Queen Martinet: 69 (conversions and construction)1
Variants
- Miles Kestrel: Prototype.1 Had Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine.1
- Master Mk I: Production model.1 Entered service in May 1939.1
- Master Mk II: Supplies of the Kestrel ran out and the Bristol Mercury engine was selected.1
- Master Mk III: Slightly smaller wing span.1
- Martinet: Target tug based on the Master Mk II.1 Longer nose.1
- Queen Martinet: Pilotless target tug.1 Radio controlled.1 Developed in 1943.1
Usage
Britain and South Africa used the Masters and Martinet.1
Post World War II
The Master Mk II and Martinet did remain in service for a few years after World War II.1
| Miles Master1 | Miles Master Mk I1 | Miles Master Mk II1 | Miles Master Mk III1 | Miles Martinet1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Advanced trainer1 | Target tug1 | |||
| Crew | 21 | 21 | |||
| Engine (Type) | Rolls-Royce Kestrel XXX1 | Bristol Mercury XX1 | Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior1 | Bristol Mercury XX1 | |
| OR | Bristol Mercury XXX1 | Bristol Mercury XXX1 | |||
| Cylinders | V 121 | Radial 91 | Radial1 | Radial 91 | |
| Cooling | |||||
| HP | 7151 | 8701 | 8251 | 8701 | |
| Propeller blades | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Span | 39'1 11.89 m1 |
35' 7"1 10.85 m1 |
|||
| Length | 30' 5"1 9.27 m1 |
30' 2"1 9.19 m1 |
|||
| Height | 10'1 3.05 m1 |
9' 3"1 2.82 m1 |
|||
| Wing area | |||||
| Weight | |||||
| Empty | 4,370 lb1 1,982 kg1 |
4,293 lb1 1,947 kg1 |
4,204 lb1 1,907 kg1 |
4,640 lb1 2,105 kg1 |
|
| Loaded | 5,573 lb1 2,528 kg1 |
5,573 lb1 2,528 kg1 |
5,573 lb1 2,528 kg1 |
6,750 lb1 3,062 kg1 |
|
| Maximum load | |||||
| Performance | |||||
| Speed @ 15,000' / 4,572 m |
226 mph1 364 kph1 |
||||
| Speed @ 6,000' / 1,829 m |
242 mph1 389 kph1 |
||||
| Cruising speed | |||||
| Climb | 2,100'/minute1 640 m/minute1 |
2,120'/minute1 646 m/minute1 |
|||
| Service ceiling | 27,000'1 8,230 m1 |
25,100'1 7,650 m1 |
|||
| Range | 484 miles1 779 km1 |
393 miles1 632 km1 |
|||
| Armament | |||||
| Wing | 1: 0.303" MG1 | ||||
| Practice bombs | 81 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
