Miles Sparrowjet
| M.77 Sparrowjet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Racing aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | F.G. Miles Limited |
| First flight | 14 December 1953 |
| Primary user | racing pilot owner |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Miles Sparrowhawk |
The Miles M.77 Sparrowjet was a twin-engined jet-powered racing aircraft built by F.G. Miles Limited by fitting Turbomeca Palas jets to the prototype Miles Sparrowhawk.
Design and development
The conversion commenced in January 1951 and the Sparrowjet first flew on 14 December 1953. Other modifications included a new tail section and front fuselage (in place of the Sparrowhawk's single engine), fixed, faired-in undercarriage and a large clear canopy. The wing roots were modified to take the Palas engines.
Operational history
Air racing history
The prototype M.5 Sparrowhawk G-ADNL was bought by Fred Dunkerley's Oldham Tyre Cord Company in January 1951. It was modified to M.77 Sparrowjet standard, and first flown by Dunkerley in air races during the Goodyear Air Challenge Trophy at Shoreham on 28 August 1954. It flew for display at Baginton during the Royal Aero Club race in July but had been prevented from racing owing to an air starter fault.[1] He won the SBAC Challenge Cup at Yeadon, West Yorkshire in 1956 and the King's Cup Race in 1957 with a top speed of 228 mph (367 km/h).
The Sparrowjet was severely damaged in a hangar fire at Upavon, Wiltshire in July 1964. In 2004 it was under rebuild in the Bristol area using discarded components from the 1950/53 conversion. The rebuild was still ongoing in early 2012.
Specifications (Sparrowjet)
Data from British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972:Volume III[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Length: 30 ft 9½ in (9.39 m)
- Wingspan: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
- Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
- Wing area: 156 ft² (14.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,578 lb (717 kg)
- Loaded weight: 2,400 lb (1,090 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Palas turbojet, 330 lbf (1.47 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 228 mph (198 knots, 367 km/h)
- Range: 270.5 miles (168 nmi, 436 km)
- Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (10.7 m/min)
References
Notes
- ↑ "Baginton Miscellany". Flight International. 2 July 1954. p. 26.
- ↑ Jackson 1988, p. 61.
Bibliography
- Amos, Peter. and Don Lambert Brown. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-2.
- Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-370-00127-3.
- Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume III. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
- Temple, Julian C. Wings Over Woodley - The Story of Miles Aircraft and the Adwest Group. Bourne End, Bucks, UK: Aston Publications, 1987. ISBN 0-946627-12-6.
External links
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