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Miles M 5 Sparrowhawk performance and specifications
In the first week of July, 1935,
F. G. Miles decided to race for
the King's Cup in the following
September, even though at that
point there was no machine
available for him, and with only
eight weeks until the race,
there was little time to produce
a suitable aircraft!. However,
in those few weeks Mrs. Miles
devised and directed the
construction of a racing
aircraft which was both fast,
manœuvrable, and pleasing to the
eye.
First, a standard Hawk fuselage
was taken from the production
line and shortened by two feet,
then standard Hawk outer wings
were fitted direct to the
fuselage, without the usual
centre-section. Long range fuel
tanks and a low, single-strut
type undercarriage were next
fitted, together with a standard
Hawk tail, the job being rounded
off with a 140 hp high
compression Gipsy Major engine.
With a highly polished cream and
red finish, the machine was
ready on time and was named the
Sparrowhawk.
The 1935 Race was flown over two
courses, the first, on one day,
being a circuit of Britain,
while the second day's flying
was over seven laps of a
triangular course of 50 miles,
both events starting and
finishing at Hatfield. The first
day's racing resolved itself
into a thrilling duel between
the only designer-pilots in the
competition - F. G. Miles and
Edgar Percival.
Fifth man to leave Hatfield, Mr.
Miles dead-heated for second
place at the Glasgow control and
had achieved that position
outright by the time he reached
Belfast, which was the only
point at which he had to refuel,
thanks to the long-range tanks.
At the last control, Cardiff,
Mr. Miles touched down as the
leader, Mr. Percival, took off
on the last stage to Hatfield,
but, stopping there only three
minutes, he continued the
pursuit and caught his rival
literally "on the post", thus
winning the speed prize, at an
average of 163.84 mph for the
953 miles circuit.
In the following day's speed
race the Sparrowhawk finished
eleventh, at 172.38 mph, but the
pilot was quite happy, as his
designs had taken the first
three places in the Race!
Several Sparrowhawks were built,
including two for special
high-lift flap research.
Engine
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One 147 hp de Havilland
Gipsy Major h c
One 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major I
One 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major II |
Dimensions
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Span:
Length:
Height:
Wing Area: |
28 ft 0 in
23 ft 6in
5ft 7in
138 sq ft |
Weights
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Tare Wt:
AUW: |
1,080 lb
1,750 lb |
Performance
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Cruise Speed:
Max Speed:
Range: |
155 mph
180 mph
415 miles |
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