The Miles M.28 Mercury was a British aircraft designed to meet the need for a training and communications plane during the Second World War. It was a single-engined monoplane of wooden construction with a twin tail and a tailwheel undercarriage with retractable main units.
Development Originally, the M.28 had been planned as a replacement for the Whitney Straight and Monarch, but this was shelved when war broke out.
In 1941, the project was revived in response to a requirement for a training and communications aircraft. The design was produced as a private venture by Ray Bournon using Miles' normal wooden construction. The resulting machine introduced several features not found on trainers: retractable undercarriage and trailing edge flaps amongst others. In the communications role, the M.28 had four seats and a range of .
The prototype first flew on 11 July 1941 Mondey 2002, p. 172. and proved easy to fly, with light controls and a short landing run. Owing to Miles' heavy commitment to war-production, however, only six aircraft were built, of slightly varying specifications, the last being the Mercury 6 which first flew in early 1946.Jackson, 1974, p.271 Examples of the type were operated in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Australia.
Variants M.28 Mark I: First prototype – Two seat trainer, powered by de Havilland Gipsy Major I engine.Jerram Aeroplane Monthly September 1986, p. 474. M.28 Mark II: Three seat trainer (with dual controls) powered by de Havilland Gipsy Major IIA. One built 1942. Re-engined with 140 hp Blackburn Cirrus Major II and then with a Cirrus Major III post-war.Jerram Aeroplane Monthly September 1986, pp. 475–476. M.28 Mark III: Three seat trainer with triple controls for two students and one instructor, powered by 150 hp Cirrus Major 3 and with revised wing section. One built (PW937).Jerram Aeroplane Monthly September 1986, p. 475.Mason 2010, p. 251. M.28 Mark IV: Four seat communications aircraft powered by Gipsy Major IIA. One built 1944. M.28 Mark V: Post-war four-seater powered by Cirrus Major III. Square rear windows. One built 1947.Jerram Aeroplane Monthly September 1986, p. 476. M.28 Mark VI: Post war four-seater powered by Cirrus Major III. Round rear windows. One built 1946.
Specifications (M.28)
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References
Notes
Bibliography
Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. . Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. . Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume 3. 1974. Putnam & Company Ltd. . Jerram, Mike. "For Business And Pleasure—No. 3", Aeroplane Monthly, Vol. 14, No. 9, September 1986. pp. 474–477. . Mason, Tim. The Secret Years: Flight Testing at Boscombe Down, 1939-1945. Crowborough, UK: Hikoki Publications, 2010. . Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 2002. .