Description
Object description
British civilian aerodynamicist with Miles Aircraft Ltd in GB, 1939-1948
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1915-1939: family; engineering education. Recollections of period as aerodynamicist with Miles Aircraft Ltd in GB, 1939- 1948: obtaining employment with company; development of Miles Master; aircraft design within company prior to Second World War; problems with Air Ministry training aircraft specifications and their adoption of Miles Magister; characteristics of Miles Master; memories of F G Miles; atmosphere in factory at Woodley; reserved occupation status; female welding staff; lack of strikes; German Air Force attacks on factory; use of aerodrome for test flying; use of Bristol and Pratt and Whitney engines on Miles Master; attitude towards flying; crash landing of aircraft.
REEL 2 Continues: work on experimental wings for Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough; introduction of technical school; comprehensive reporting of testing activities; work on fuselages; name change to company; work at company's Reading factory under George Miles; George Mile's work on square Libalulla wing for Royal Navy; construction wind tunnel in barn at Woodley; modification of cockpit of Miles Magister; design of car; work on prototype Miles M.20, 1940; characteristics of Miles M.18; method of increasing performance of propellers; description of factory work shops.
REEL 3 Continues: dealing with inventors including Lajos Biro inventor of Biro pen; attempts to develop anti-aircraft device utilising gun powder; plan to develop Miles M.38 Messenger in the convoy escort role; design of Miles M.33 Monitor target towing aircraft; design of Miles M.60 Marathon; reasons for development of Miles M.52 supersonic aircraft; reasons for problems with transonic aircraft towards end of Second World War; specification for Miles M.52, 1943; development work on Miles M.52; choice of shape of wing for Miles M.52.
REEL 4 Continues: wind tunnel testing of model of Miles M.52; testing of wing; flying characteristics of Miles M.52; how wings perform during supersonic flight; unknown factors during development of Miles M.52; low speed tests; character of Miles M.52's engine and tailplane; development of ejector capsule in Miles M.52; design of fuselage of M.52; lack of information on behaviour of air intake; design of undercarriage and tyres; fuel tanks; performance of Miles M.52; original contract for two aircraft; aircraft hydraulics.
REEL 5 Continues: progress of project, autumn 1944; handing over details of project to American team, autumn 1944; behaviour of Americans in not handing over their own research; character of Bell X-1 in contrast with Miles M.52; question of reasons for cancellation of project, 2/1946; programme of model testing of Miles M.52; question of shape of wing needed for supersonic flight; reasons given for cancelling Miles M.52 project.
REEL 6 Continues: reads extract from report from member of Supersonic Committee at Air Ministry; attempts of Air Ministry to stop Frank Whittle from making jet engines; opinion of treatment of Frank Whittle; reaction to cancellation of Miles M.52 project; further question of cancellation of Miles M.52 project and lack of American influence on project; employment on leaving Miles Aircraft Ltd.
