Miles M 28 Mercury performance and specifications

It was generally agreed that elementary flying training should be given in two-seat side-by-side cabin aircraft, not only because of the confidence given to the pupil by the instructor being at his side, but because the whole instructional routine would be simplified.

With these desirable objectives in view, since 1936 the Miles organisation advocated the use of such an arrangement, and carried their ideas into effect in the Whitney Straight and Monarch civilian types with great success.

The ideal form was achieved with the M.28, a machine which holds the distinction of being the first light aeroplane type to be designed and built during the war years, although the original projecting was done in 1939. Intended primarily for two seat initial flying training duties, it can also be used as a three-seat navigational and radio trainer, or as a four seat communication type, and requires little or no adaptation to become a club machine, air-taxi or private-owner aeroplane on the return of peace.

Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the M.28 is that with only 140 hp it can carry four people at 160 mph, for 500 miles with a fuel consumption of 20 mpg. This remarkable performance is combined with a low landing speed, achieved by the use of a new type of retractable auxiliary aerofoil flaps devised by Mr. George Miles who, in addition to designing the M.28, carried out all the initial flight tests himself.
 

Design Company:

Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd

First Flight:

11 July 1941

M.28:

6 - Phillips & Powis, Woodley

Type Specification

Applies to:

Miles M.28

Type:

Cabin training and communication aircraft built as private venture

Wing:

Low wing cantilever monoplane of spruce structure covered in plywood. Wing tapers from root to tip with dihedral. Split flaps fitted as standard

Fuselage:

Fuselage of spruce structure with plywood covering

Tail Unit:

Cantilever tailplane with elevator at top of fuselage with single fin and rudder

Landing Gear:

Single wheel on each main leg, which retract into wing. Tailwheel

Power Plant:

One 150 hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III engine in nose driving a fixed pitch propeller

Accommodation:

Two rows of two seat in enclosed cabin

Dimensions

Span:

30 ft 8 in

Length:

24 ft

Height:

8 ft 4 in

Wing Area:

162 sq ft

Weights

Empty:

1,658 lb

All-up:

2,500 lb

Performance

Max Speed:

159 mph

Rate of Climb:

840 ft/min

Range:

408 miles