Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Light commercial transport

Power Plant:

Two 116 kw (155 hp) Blackburn Cirrus Major four-cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engines

Specifications:

History:

During World War II George Miles designed a light transport for military use, seeing a need for a light transport that could operate into short unprepared strips, particularly in theatres of war such as in Burma. The prototype (O-248, later G-AGOZ – c/n 4700) was built and made its first flight at Woodley in Berkshire, UK on 26 January 1945. This, the Miles M.57 Aerovan, was submitted to the British Air Ministry as a type which would be suitable as a light transport for the RAF, but he was rebuked for building the aircraft without permission during wartime, and had to stop work on the second aircraft.

At the conclusion of World War II the Aerovan was resurrected and placed in production. It was a twin-engine, high-wing, cantilever monoplane with the fuselage in the form of a pod, the triple-tail being carried on a thin tail boom. Although aimed at the freight market, operators showed interest in using it as a light transport, seating six in air-coach configuration with a toilet, or up to 10 passengers. The Certificate of Airworthiness was received on 1 February 1946 and shortly thereafter the second aircraft (G-AGWO – c/n 6432) appeared with a fuselage extension of 45.7 cm (18 in), becoming known as the Aerovan II.

The Aerovan III was the next to appear and comprised seven production aircraft (c/ns 6380 to 6398, 6400 to 6403, 6405 to 6428). One Aerovan V (G-AISJ – c/n 6404) was built and this differed in having 108 kw (145 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engines. Last variant was the Aerovan VI (two built) which had 145 kw (195 hp) Lycoming O-435A engines and extended tail surfaces. There is some conjecture as to how many Aerovans were built but it is believed the figure is 53 or 54. One (G-AJOF), an Aerovan VI, was fitted with Cirrus Major engines, and, after re-registration (G-AHDM), was fitted with a 22.98 m (75 ft 4 in) span Hurel Dubois high aspect ratio wing.

The Aerovan did not have a happy history. Records indicate 23 were lost in crashes, five were destroyed on the ground in gales, and one force landed on a beach and was swept out to sea. Operators included Air Contractors, Arab Contract & Trading, Ulster Aviation, Aerotaxis in Switzerland, SITA in Vietnam, DHY Turkish Airlines; and one went to the Turkish Air Force. A few were used in the role of carrying freight across the English Channel.

Two Aerovan Mk IVs were imported to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington by ship in October 1949 and seeing service from October 1949 with the RNZAF (NZ1751 – ex G-21-4; and NZ1752 ex G-21-3). They were imported and used for aerial topdressing trials and magnetic survey work respectively, being attached to the Research and Development Flight, which was part of No 41 Squadron at Whenuapai. However, as they were found unsuitable for these roles, they later were offered for sale by tender on 6 November 1950.

They were purchased by a company Paul & Gray on 6 April 1951 and were placed on the civil register. One ZK-AWV (c/n 6427 – ex NZ1752) was obtained by Airwork (NZ) Ltd for freight work in 1951 and at one stage was leased to New Zealand Railways for freight work but was found to be under powered. A proving flight to Timaru on 30 July 1951 was made but the aircraft was mainly used on charter work in the South Island and was regularly seen on the North Island visiting Paraparaumu and Rongotai. On one occasion it suffered a mishap at Rongotai when, on 2 November 1951, after landing and stopping in front of a hangar, it was turned over by a strong gust of wind and wrecked. The wreck was taken to Christchurch to be used as spares.

The second New Zealand aircraft was registered on 16 November 1953 as ZK-AWW (c/n 6428 – ex NZ1751) and was initially converted to topdressing configuration at Mangere by Aircraft Services (NZ) Ltd but was found to be unsuitable for this work. It was sold to Paul & Gray at Whenuapai on 28 September 1951, was placed on the civil register and operated with Southland Aerial Fertiliser Ltd, known as Hewett Aviation, in November 1951 but was found to be unsuitable for this task. It was then converted for freight and passenger work, seating ten, and operated with Hewett Aviation out of Mossburn. It was also used for aerial sightseeing. On one occasion it was turned over by strong winds at the Franz Josef airfield. However, it was repaired and saw extensive service in the freight role whilst flown by Bill Hewett. It was eventually written off when, on 26 February 1954, in deteriorating weather, a forced landing was made near Ranfurly and it was damaged beyond repair. The wreck was also returned to Christchurch where the fuselage was converted for use as a caravan.

In 1947 the Nelson Aero Club applied to the National Airways Corporation to operate air-taxi and freight services from Takaka, having the support of the Takaka County Council, proposing to import a Miles Aerovan for this purpose but the aircraft was not imported.

One Aerovan made its way to Israel and joined the Israeli Air Force in 1948. This aircraft (c/n 6418 – ex G-AJWI) was camouflaged but was destroyed in a crash landing south of Tel Aviv. The crew and passengers all survived but five were killed by local Arabs, and two managed to escape. No Aerovans survive but parts of a couple survive in the United Kingdom.