Photograph:
Miles Magister P6382 – G-AJDR in the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden, UK in September 1994 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Two-seat light open-cockpit training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 3 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
- Length: 7.5 m (24 ft 7½ in)
- Height: 2.07 m (6 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 16 m² (172 sq ft)
- Max speed: 212 km/h (132 mph)
- Cruising speed: 198 km/h (123 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 259 m/min (850 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- Range: 611 km (380 miles)
- Empty weight: 583 kg (1,286 lb)
- Loaded weight: 862 kg (1,900 lb)
History:
In 1935 Miles produced an improved version of the Miles Hawk Major for aero club use in the United Kingdom and this aircraft, fitted with dual controls, full blind-flying equipment, vacuum-operated flaps, and a Gipsy Major engine, became known as the M.2W Hawk Trainer. Four were built, before production was transferred to the M.2X, which differed in having horn-balanced rudders of greater area. Ten similar M-2Y Hawk Trainers were then built for the Romanian Air Force, and one ZK-AEQ (c/n 302) was delivered to the Wellington Aero Club in New Zealand.
In 1937 the Hawk Major was developed to meet a specification for a trainer for the RAF. Structurally identical to its predecessor, but with slightly less span, a wide-track undercarriage with spats, and anti-spinning strakes, these new monoplanes became known as the M.14 Magister. A few were also built for civil purposes being known as the Hawk Trainer Mk III, and four were delivered to New Zealand in 1937. ZK-AEZ (c/n 486) was delivered to the Auckland Aero Club in April 1937 and ZK-AEY (c/n 332 – ex G-AETL) was delivered to the Otago Aero Club in 1937. Another became ZK-AFA (c/n 487). ZK-AEZ was impressed by the RNZAF in 1939 as NZ585 and, along with ZK-AEY, which became NZ586, served with the RNZAF in the training role, and later performed light communications duties until 1946.
Two more M.14As (c/ns 488 and 489) appear in records as having been delivered to New Zealand but no record can be found of them having been received by the RNZAF. NZ585 was destroyed by fire in 1943. NZ586 returned to civil use in 1947 as ZK-ALO but was destroyed in a crash at Great Barrier Island on 17 March 1939. In all 1,293 Magisters were built for military operators.
The RAAF received one (c/n 547). It received the serial A15-1 and was trialled against the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth. However, the type was not chosen, and the aircraft was scrapped in June 1938. One other aircraft (c/n 510) was sold to Aircraft Industries Pty Ltd, which company indicated an intention to build the type in Australia. No production aircraft were built and the fate of c/n 510 is not known. It is also not known if the aircraft was in fact imported to Australia.
After the war some 300 ex-RAF Miles M.14A Magisters were obtained by Miles Aircraft Ltd and refurbished, many for export to civil and military operators. A few of these were delivered to New Zealand to civil operators. Magisters registered in New Zealand have included: ZK-ANJ (c/n 783); ZK-ANK (c/n 897); ZK-ATE (c/n 2105); ZK-AYW (c/n 779); and ZK-BBA (c/n 2170).
One Magister survives in New Zealand. ZK-AYW, built for the RAF in September 1938, was flown by Waitomo and Piake Aero Clubs from 1953 until September 1962. After retirement it was donated to the MOTAT Museum in Auckland, painted in wartime markings, and placed on display.