| M.4A Merlin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Five-seat cabin monoplane Type of aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Miles Aircraft Limited |
| Designer | Frederick George Miles |
| First flight | 11 May 1935 |
| Number built | 4 |
| Developed from | Miles M.3 Falcon |
TheMiles M.4A Merlin was a 1930sBritish five-seat cabin monoplane built byMiles Aircraft Limited.
TheMerlin was designed by F.G. Miles ofPhilips and Powis, as a result of collaboration with G. Birkett of Birkett Air Service Ltd, and Tata Sons Ltd of India. It was based on the three-seat and four-seat versions of theM.3 Falcon, but with wider fuselage and consequent increased wing span. It was a low-wing monoplane, with fixed main undercarriage in trouser fairings plus a fixed tailwheel. Construction was mainly of wood, with spruce frames and three-ply birch covering, and the wings had hydraulically operated split flaps. It was powered by a 200 hpde Havilland Gipsy Six piston engine. It was first designated M.4 Merlin, but all four examples were completed as M.4A Merlin, with fixed pitch propeller instead of the intended variable pitch unit.[1][2][3]
On 11 May 1935, the prototype (U-8, later G-ADFE), built byPhilips and Powis (Miles Aircraft), first flew atWoodley Aerodrome, piloted by F.G. Miles. A few weeks later, the Merlin was delivered to Birkett Air Service, for its air taxi and charter business based atHeston Aerodrome. Two aircraft were built and delivered to Tata Sons Ltd for itsTata Air Lines service on theKarachi-Madras route. The fourth and final Merlin was delivered to E. Chaseling ofVictorian and Interstate Airways inAustralia, for itsMelbourne-Hay service. In 1940, the Australian Merlin was pressed into service with theRoyal Australian Air Force.[1][2]
Data from Lukins & Russell[4]
General characteristics
Performance
