Miles Gemini

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Gemini

The Miles M.65 Gemini was a British twin-engined four-seat touring aircraft
designed and built by Miles Aircraft at Woodley Aerodrome. It was the last Miles
aircraft to be produced in quantity.

It was described by the manufacturer as the "safest light aeroplane in the
world".

Designed as a twin-engined retractable landing gear version of the earlier Miles
Messenger the Gemini first flew on 26 October 1945. The Gemini was a four-seat
low-wing cantilever monoplane of plastic-bonded plywood construction. It had
twin vertical tail units. Originally powered by 90 hp (67,5 kW) Blackburn Cirrus
Minor engines, the aircraft was put into large scale production straight away
and 130 Geminis were sold in the first year. Later variants were fitted with
different engines.

After the collapse of Miles Aircraft in 1947 eight aircraft had not been
completed and they were assembled by Handley Page (Reading) Limited at Woodley
(two in 1950); Wolverhampton Aviation at Wolverhampton's Pendeford Aerodrome
(five in 1951); and by F. G. Miles Limited at Redhill Aerodrome (one).


Role
Twin-engined touring aircraft

Manufacturer
Miles Aircraft

First flight
26 October 1945

Introduction
1946

Produced
1945-1947

Number built
170

Developed from
Miles Messenger

The aircraft was popular with private owners for touring throughout Europe and
many were exported to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other
Commonwealth countries. In the late 1940s and early 1950s they were frequently
entered in air races, with G-AKDC flown by J.N. 'Nat' Somers AFC winning the
1949 King's Cup Air Race (a handicapped event) at 164.25 mph, this aircraft was
fitted with de Havilland Gipsy Majors rated at 145 hp each.[2]

Several aircraft were used as light business transports by commercial firms
including Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd, Fairey Aviation and B.K.S Engineering. Other
examples were flown by UK independent airlines on light charter work within the
U.K. and Europe.

Two examples completed in 1951 by F. G. Miles were fitted with 155 hp (116 kW)
Blackburn Cirrus Major III engines and provided with enlarged and heightened
fins. These were re-designated the Miles M.75 Aries.

Specifications (Gemini 1A)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 3 passengers
Length: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 2 in (11.02 m)
Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Wing area: 191 sq ft (17.7 m2)
Aspect ratio: 6.86
Empty weight: 1,910 lb (866 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)
Fuel capacity: 36 imp gal (43 US gal; 160 l) in two centre-section tanks +
optional 24 imp gal (29 US gal; 110 l) in two cabin tanks; 4 imp gal (4.8 US
gal; 18 l) oil
Powerplant: 2 × Blackburn Cirrus Minor II 4-cyl inverted air-cooled in-line
piston engines, 100 hp (75 kW) each
Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch airscrews

Performance
Maximum speed: 150 mph (241 km/h; 130 kn) at 2,800 lb (1,300 kg)
Cruise speed: 130 mph (209 km/h; 113 kn)
Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h; 30 kn)
Range: 520 mi (452 nmi; 837 km) still air with 36 imp gal (43 US gal; 160 l)
fuel
Ferry range: 820 mi (713 nmi; 1,320 km) still air with 60 imp gal (72 US gal;
270 l) fuel
Endurance: 5.8 hours
Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,100 m)
Rate of climb: 870 ft/min (4.4 m/s)
Wing loading: 15.7 lb/sq ft (77 kg/m2) at MTOW
Power/mass: 15 lb/hp (9.124 kg/kW)





*